Help!! Turkey hen can't stand or walk.

[desertlover]

Our app. 10 months old turkey hen is just laying on the ground. I picked her up and checked for injuries or such and there is no evidence of it. She is calm and doesn't seem to be in pain. She eats offered treats with her normal appetite and her water intake out of a bucket next to her seems fine,too.Thursday she was fine and Friday I found her not able to stand up or walk. We have 2 hens and one tom living in a very large fenced area. They are not overfed and move around just fine. Tomorrow,( Monday), I will get the hen to the vet because I can't get any satisfying answer to this problem from anybody who has more experience with fowl than I have. Our turkeys are pets therefor we don't want to end this the "common" way...
Any suggestions what we are dealing with?
Thanks

 

[Makomd]

Do you know what breed they are? If they are Broad Breasted variety white or bronze they are not meant to live long and will eventually die to weight. Their lungs are so small for all the weight. My hen was showing labored breathing and slow movement as she gained weight.

 

[desertlover]

Yes, I know the breed. Unfortunately they are BBB's. Even though we carefully watched how much we feed them and gave them plenty of room to roam, I guess, it is still difficult to keep broad breasted ones alive and healthy over a long period of time. The other hen is about the same weight and the tom is MUCH bigger/heavier but they don't seem to have any problems. They even come running when they see us outside or in the barn with the horses. Is around a year of live span all we can expect with this breed? Could this hen be saved by any medication or a diet?

 

[setir052083]

I have had good luck with keeping my BBB Tom as a pet. He will be 3 in the Spring. However, I have had 3 Giant Whites and I only have one hen left. The other two just barely lived to be a year old.

 

[Makomd]

I know yours are pets, but after processing mine this year I can hardly imagine the discomfort. The lungs are so small compared to the rest of the bird. I have heard that hens being kept for some time as they tend to get to around 30 lbs.

 

[desertlover]

I appreciate every body's replies. I just came in from the barn and the hen was still in her box. Her breathing is completely normal, she is alert and doesn't seem to be stressed. I will be on the phone in the morning as soon as the vet opens to find out was is going on. We won't let the bird suffer or put her through some long term recovery treatment. Hopefully the other two turkeys live longer.

 

[desertlover]

We were thinking about getting the giant whites but then, after several people telling us they don't live long, decided to try the bronze. We were told they live quite a bit longer than the whites. Well, I guess not! Hopefully the other hen and the tom stay healthy for some time.