Injured BBB Baby

[Bird Brain]

I have 5 3.5 week old BBB babies. One of them was injured yesterday when my dog tried to play with it through the fence. I don't believe the dog actually bit the turkey, but I think the injury was brought about by the dog pulling out a mouthfull of wing feathers with meat still attached. I am hoping this is the case because that would mean that was bacteria that wasn't introduced into my poor baby.

The injury occurred about 36 hours ago. I think I found it right after it happened and I was on my way to work at the drug store, so my baby got to tag along. I bought some Iodine to clean it with and left food an water in his box. After about 4 hours I shot some infant bird formula down his throat, and within 10 minutes, he was eating his chick starter.

He is still eating and drinking. His water bowl was actually dry when I got home. He preens what little feathers are still attached to his pathetic wing. He stands up when I walk into the room.

I guess my question is...does anyone have advice or experience with this type of injury? He never went into shock and obviously feels well enough to take care of himself. All I have to worry about now is infection. I have him separated from his BBB friends because it is such a big bloody spot and I will contimue to clean it with Iodine. Any thing else I can do to help stave off infection?

 

[monarc23]

more than likely your turkey will be fine, as long as theres no profuse bleeding and you keep the area clean I really truely believe that it will heal. Birds can be so sensitive to some of the most dumbes things, and yet when you expect them NOT to do well they seem to take their time and yet bounce back like nothing ever happened.

However I must say your dog more than likely wasnt playing, some people put too much trust in their canines with poultry and other prey animals. Always remember, dogs are carnivores they may be sweet and give paw and what not but they are still predators and being around walking treats all day long can set owners up for heartache. I don't even let my dog around my birds because theres a first time for everything. Even in just playing dogs can do damage like a hard paw to the body, or a playful nip....or the more than likely sinario.."mom wont notice as i take a huge bite out of this bird that's too close to the wire". Even dogs bred for decades or hundreds of years for livestock protection can revert back and kill the animals they grew up around to protect sadly.

 

[Bird Brain]

I do think she was just playing, but playing for her could very well be fatal for my little friends. I didn't even realize she was outside. She knew how mad I was at her, too!

But I can hear my baby in the other room, cheep, cheep, cheeping away...