Is this common/normal with turkeys?

[crtrlovr]

I have a Blue Slate hen (no other turkeys, just this one who lives w/ the chickens & 3 guineas) who will be 3 yrs. old on April 16. The woman who got her picked her up at the hatchery -- the poult had hatched about 1 or 2 hrs. before my friend got there to pick up her chicks, and this was the only turkey they had hatch. Somehow they talked my friend into taking the turkey also. When she got home with them, (about a 1 1/2 hr. drive) the turkey looked ill. She got a VERY high fever (my friend was a vet tech so she's familiar with the fact that birds run "hot", but this was REALLY hot!) After 2 weeks of intensive care, handfeeding, etc. the turkey recovered and has been healthy & happy since then with the exception of 2 separate bouts of an upper respiratory infection treated with Amoxi and ketoconazole (antifungal) first time, Baytril & keto 2nd time. She seems fine, but about a year ago she had lost her balance while getting ready to jump, and landed on her side. She could NOT get up; I had to help her get back to her feet. She has no wobbly gait, no stumbling, or other apparent neurological issues. I assumed it was a momentary "glitch". Today when I went out to let the gang out, I opened the coop door and she was lying on her back, weakly moving one foot. (scared the snot out of me... ) I picked her up and set her on her feet. She stayed low on her feet and rested a few seconds, then raised up and walked to the feeder, limping slightly. She ate a few bites, got her a drink of water, then walked outside to nibble the scratch I was scattering for the chickens. She now appears to be fine. Is this normal for turkeys? (not being able to get up after they have fallen or lost their balance?) It just seems really odd to me that she is fine in every other aspect.

Somebody got some insight out there? Mind sharing it?

TIA!
ETA to correct typo

 

[KatyTheChickenLady]

not an expert and have no real insight, but wanted to mention that the owner of a hatchery once told me that baytril messes with their bone developement . .. .

 

[crtrlovr]

Is that only with turkeys or all birds? My avian vet has prescribed Baytril for my indoor birds on the rare occasions one of them would get sick; in fact Baytril is the drug of choice for URIs in aviary / indoor exotic bird species.

 

[crtrlovr]

would anyone else care to weigh in on this? I could really use some input here.

 

[Jmiller429]

ill weigh. my 2 cents, I dont think that is normal behavior. Not sure what might cause the problem, but it probably shouldnt happen

 

[crtrlovr]

It doesn't seem normal to me either, but she seems fine in every other respect besides what I mentioned. I can't imagine why she is unable to right herself. She's not unsteady in her gait, she doesn't stumble, she doesn't shake her head, she doesn't exhibit any signs of inner ear disturbance like people do -- she just can't right herself when she gets on her side or back.

 

[kuntrygirl]

I just found this post. How is your turkey?

 

[crtrlovr]

Since the incident a few weeks ago she has seemed perfectly normal. No more incidents, no sign of weakness, etc. She has resumed laying, and has left me beautiful spotted eggs in amongst the chicken and duck eggs.

I still can't figure out how she lays in the milk carton the chickens prefer -- she must just "hover" .

By looking at her, one would never suspect she's ever had an illness or neurological incident of any kind. Hopefully from here on out she can manage to stay upright.