Help Please..Turkey Poults w/leg problems.

[cotterboy2381]

These are 3 week old poults and 2 out of 4 have developed this problem where one leg is turned 90 degrees side ways and the knee seams to be swollen it bends in toward the body and they waddle like a duck. I have starter feed and water 24/7 in the cage. we started them with hardware cloth over newspaper since they were brought home at 3 days old. One started about a week ago and the other today. I noticed they do not get around as much as the other two. Can anyone help us with this problem? I have included a pic?

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[MissTurkey4]

Is this a broad breasted bronze? What are you feeding? Never mind I see your feeding starter. It is turkey starter and not chick starter, right. Is that 24/7? I think when they have bad legs at this age they are never going to be able to hold the weight of a adult bird. I sorry but they might need to be culled. Some people do wraping and rubber bands. I never had any luck with that. I would put a towel over your hard wire bottom and restrict feed for any other turkeys you have.

 

[cotterboy2381]

Yes they are broad breasted bronze. And yes I have the feeder in the cage all the time as instructed by the feed store. Are they gaining weight too fast? And if I pull the feed, how often should I feed and for how long? And I am feeding them stater turkey feed.

 

[MissTurkey4]

I would try restricting them to 12 hours of food a day. Like you would be feeding a broiler chicken. Welps Hatchery has some good info on broiler chickens to give you some good ideas. It is not your fault. It is a problem in the breed.

 

[cotterboy2381]

We will follow your advice. Thank for with your help. We will keep posting on the progress. By the way, what would be a good breed if we wanted laying turkey hens? And where would be a good place to find them?

Thanks again
Scott & Kelli

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

delete

 

[MissTurkey4]

Quote:
Any of the heritage turkeys make great pets and momma's. Your Broadbreasted turkeys are for meat only. We do not recomend them for people who want a pet. Of the large hatcherys Cackle and Privett are the only ones who hatch their own turkey. Everyone else drop ships. Porter and Sandhill also hatch turkeys but the sell out fast.