injured / sick turkey hen

[NickyS2512]

Have a Turkey hen just coming up to 12m old, who has been ill with what we think is coccidiosis. She has been treated for this, and seemed to be improving, so I put her outside for a few hours. When evening came, we found her sitting by our garden shed, so I picked her up and brought her back inside. Only next morning did I realise she had been attacked - possibly by a fox. She has quite a significant wound on her flank, which was hidden by her wing. I dont think it was the other birds. The vet has given me injectable antibiotic, but this will run out tomorrow - it is penicillin based, but otherwise I do not have any information, the bottle is unlabelled. She was originally on antibiotic for rectal prolapse and diarrhoea, as the first vet I consulted didnt seem to consider the diagnosis of coccidiosis. She is not eating or drinking other than what I give by hand via a syringe ( water ) and teaspoon ( cereal based mush ) She is able to walk, and doesnt seem miserable. I am unsure how much I should attempt to feed and water her - she is quite co-operative with me, but I dont want to overdo the volumes I give

 

[R2elk]

Have a Turkey hen just coming up to 12m old, who has been ill with what we think is coccidiosis. She has been treated for this, and seemed to be improving, so I put her outside for a few hours. When evening came, we found her sitting by our garden shed, so I picked her up and brought her back inside. Only next morning did I realize she had been attacked - possibly by a fox. She has quite a significant wound on her flank, which was hidden by her wing. I don't think it was the other birds. The vet has given me injectable antibiotic, but this will run out tomorrow - it is penicillin based, but otherwise I do not have any information, the bottle is unlabelled. She was originally on antibiotic for rectal prolapse and diarrhea, as the first vet I consulted didn't seem to consider the diagnosis of coccidiosis. She is not eating or drinking other than what I give by hand via a syringe ( water ) and teaspoon ( cereal based mush ) She is able to walk, and doesn't seem miserable. I am unsure how much I should attempt to feed and water her - she is quite co-operative with me, but I don't want to overdo the volumes I give

The description of the wound falls in line with the type of wound a turkey hen can get during a bad mating with a tom. If you have multiple toms, and one or only a few hens, this is type of injury that can happen.

It is turkey breeding season in the northern hemisphere. If you thought your hen was sick because you would find her just lying down, she was most likely doing what turkey hens do when they are willing to accept a tom and breed, they lie down to allow the tom to mount them. If there is no tom present, they will still lie down giving many newbie owners the impression that they want to be petted.

Some of my hens are so horny right now that they will run over to get in front of my tom and immediately drop right in his path.

If it is a breeding wound, put Blu-kote on it and keep her away from any toms. Turkeys are tough and resilient and can recover from minor wounds without any interference from people.

 

[NickyS2512]

The description of the wound falls in line with the type of wound a turkey hen can get during a bad mating with a tom. If you have multiple toms, and one or only a few hens, this is type of injury that can happen.

It is turkey breeding season in the northern hemisphere. If you thought your hen was sick because you would find her just lying down, she was most likely doing what turkey hens do when they are willing to accept a tom and breed, they lie down to allow the tom to mount them. If there is no tom present, they will still lie down giving many newbie owners the impression that they want to be petted.

Some of my hens are so horny right now that they will run over to get in front of my tom and immediately drop right in his path.

If it is a breeding wound, put Blu-kote on it and keep her away from any toms. Turkeys are tough and resilient and can recover from minor wounds without any interference from people.

 

[NickyS2512]

thanks for your thoughts - it possibly could be mating injury - I have found another area of excoriation on the other side, but not as bad . We only have one tom and four hens. However, she wasn't lying down inviting mating when we found her - it was getting dark, and the other birds were all roosting, and she can only walk with a limping gait for a short distance. She is still alive, but her food and fluid intake concerns me, although this morning she took some beakfulls ( is that a word?!) herself, although only when sitting on my lap with the bowl of mush offered. She was definitely sick before the injury occurred - yellow loose stools and a rectal prolapse. Her lower feathers and legs/feet were stained with the yellow poo. This has improved with treatment for coccidiosis, and the outside birds have also been treated.
Although I have termed her injuries an excoriation, the left side is more than that - a whole area of skin and underlying tissue has been torn away, and a remnant is hanging down. Possibly the tom mated her whilst she was sick and debilitated?

 

[R2elk]

thanks for your thoughts - it possibly could be mating injury - I have found another area of excoriation on the other side, but not as bad . We only have one tom and four hens. However, she wasn't lying down inviting mating when we found her - it was getting dark, and the other birds were all roosting, and she can only walk with a limping gait for a short distance. She is still alive, but her food and fluid intake concerns me, although this morning she took some beakfulls ( is that a word?!) herself, although only when sitting on my lap with the bowl of mush offered. She was definitely sick before the injury occurred - yellow loose stools and a rectal prolapse. Her lower feathers and legs/feet were stained with the yellow poo. This has improved with treatment for coccidiosis, and the outside birds have also been treated.
Although I have termed her injuries an excoriation, the left side is more than that - a whole area of skin and underlying tissue has been torn away, and a remnant is hanging down. Possibly the tom mated her whilst she was sick and debilitated?

If she was not well and laying down, a tom would have taken that as permission to breed. When an unwanted breeding attempt occurs the hen resists the attempt and can get injured when the tom slips off. Use of a turkey saddle and trimming the tom's toenails can help prevent such injuries.

Those type of injuries can cause a hen to limp. If the injury is severe enough, she may always have a limp in the future.

If she has a prolapse, you may wish to rethink what you are feeding your turkeys. From what little I know of the cause of prolapses, too much fat can be a contributing factor. Low protein, high fat food such as corn, flax and sunflower seeds are not good for turkeys.

I recommend a good quality all flock feed that is 20% protein. It will contain the higher amounts of lysine, methionine and niacin that turkeys need.

 

[NickyS2512]

If she was not well and laying down, a tom would have taken that as permission to breed. When an unwanted breeding attempt occurs the hen resists the attempt and can get injured when the tom slips off. Use of a turkey saddle and trimming the tom's toenails can help prevent such injuries.

Those type of injuries can cause a hen to limp. If the injury is severe enough, she may always have a limp in the future.

If she has a prolapse, you may wish to rethink what you are feeding your turkeys. From what little I know of the cause of prolapses, too much fat can be a contributing factor. Low protein, high fat food such as corn, flax and sunflower seeds are not good for turkeys.

I recommend a good quality all flock feed that is 20% protein. It will contain the higher amounts of lysine, methionine and niacin that turkeys need.[/QUOTE


Thanks for your advice - it has been really helpful

 

[NickyS2512]

thank you so much for taking the time to respond to my post - it has been very helpful to me