HELP PLEASE SICK TURKEY

[jonlocal40]

ok where do i start he's about 20-25 pounds, not exstending kneck, head red and white, head looks like its kinda turning brown instead of (blue, green, purple),hard time swollowing, kinda weasing, hasn't eatten all day, nor drank, hasn't fluffed out parading around the yard, setting alot, i'm in new hampshire so the weather is starting to turn cold. can anyone please help me in saving my only turkey. he is less than 5 months old. My wife and i got it as a meat bird but we got attached to him and she wants to save him and keep him.

 

[PeeperKeeper]

He knows Thanksgiving is next month? Sorry, getting late here.
Had a turkey once, did the same thing. Found little white lice all under his feathers. Started about this time of the year too. Something about the colder weather drives the lice like crazy to find winter quarters.
If you have any left over Sevin garden dust put on some gloves and powder him all over, especially extra fluffy areas. The lice will suck the life out of him so boost his nutrients with some vitamins like the polyvisol or what ever you got handy and feed him some soft oatmeal and extra vit C and a dark leafy green veggie.
I hope this helps, I know how frustrating it can be to sit and wait for a helpful answer. I hope mine is one of those.
God Bless and good night.

 

[sammi]

do you mean his feathers are turning dark?
or is the head turning dark?

turkeys can get Blackhead..(tho I don't know if it's it YOUR turkey's problem)
here's some info:

click here

describe the droppings..
can you check the crop to see if it might be impacted?

do you have any Tylan 200 injectable on hand?
sounds like he could have a respiratory illness with the wheezing..

 

[chickenannie]

Might be blackhead. Do you have pics?

 

[jonlocal40]

his stole is real wet. today he is looking alittle better, starting to eat a little more i see. i only feed him med pellets. i'll try the oatmeal and greens. thank you any other sugg i'll take them please jon

 

[chickenannie]

What breed is your turkey? Is it a Broad-Breasted White Turkey?

I just now noticed that you said you got it as a meat bird, and that it is 5 months old. That said, those BBWs are bred to grow very large very quickly and typically it would be butchered at the size you have it. They can get health problems beyond that point, only because they are basically not bred for longevity beyond 4 or 5 months.

If you have a heritage breed, that's another story... they will live fine for years. But a 5 month old turkey that is 25 lbs is not likely a heritage breed.

someone else may know better about whether a BBW can do well after 5 months old.

 

[miss_jayne]

Quote:
i think med pellets are not good for turkeys in general. i could be wrong, but am pretty sure. maybe someone can comment on this.