Leg and toe issues white turkeys

[saskmomma4]

Hi everyone! This year we bought some white broad breasted turkeys to butcher up this fall, thought they would be simple and easy to raise and get some tasty meat in the end. They are about 6 weeks old and all seem to be healthy birds, they currently live in a movable tractor and I'm allowing them a little free ranging time each day. Eat feed prepared at our local feed store with good ingredients and all of that. Anyways a few weeks ago I noticed one with its toes sort of curled back and thought maybe not a big deal, but yesterday I noticed a second one with the same thing and after watching them a bit more I also noticed they both have one leg that sort of bends the wrong way. They still walk around just look awkward while doing it. I understand leg issues are common in these birds so does this sound like a common problem? Or could it be a disease? I've been trying to research and haven't found any good clear answers.

 

[R2elk]

Hi everyone! This year we bought some white broad breasted turkeys to butcher up this fall, thought they would be simple and easy to raise and get some tasty meat in the end. They are about 6 weeks old and all seem to be healthy birds, they currently live in a movable tractor and I'm allowing them a little free ranging time each day. Eat feed prepared at our local feed store with good ingredients and all of that. Anyways a few weeks ago I noticed one with its toes sort of curled back and thought maybe not a big deal, but yesterday I noticed a second one with the same thing and after watching them a bit more I also noticed they both have one leg that sort of bends the wrong way. They still walk around just look awkward while doing it. I understand leg issues are common in these birds so does this sound like a common problem? Or could it be a disease? I've been trying to research and haven't found any good clear answers.

Your description implies that the feed you are using is the problem. Without knowing the protein content , I cannot say if it is too low in protein but I can conclude that it is deficient in lysine, methionine and niacin.

Your description of the leg issues implies that your poults are developing perosis which is caused by a thiamine and niacin deficiency. Put them on a proper turkey or gamebird starter or grower right now.

You can help with the thiamine and niacin deficiency by giving them vitamin B complex made at the rate of 1/2 tablet or capsule dissolved in one gallon of water. It should be their only source of water. Nothing else should be mixed in with the vitamin B complex solution and it should be made fresh daily.

 

[saskmomma4]

Your description implies that the feed you are using is the problem. Without knowing the protein content , I cannot say if it is too low in protein but I can conclude that it is deficient in lysine, methionine and niacin.

Your description of the leg issues implies that your poults are developing perosis which is caused by a thiamine and niacin deficiency. Put them on a proper turkey or gamebird starter or grower right now.

You can help with the thiamine and niacin deficiency by giving them vitamin B complex made at the rate of 1/2 tablet or capsule dissolved in one gallon of water. It should be their only source of water. Nothing else should be mixed in with the vitamin B complex solution and it should be made fresh daily.

Thank you for your response! I have them living with my broilers and I feed turkey/game bird starter mixed with poultry grower. As I don't have facilities to keep them seperated. I have raised heritage turkeys before and never had an issue with them sharing the same feed as the chickens. I'm going to get some vitamin b and put it in the water. And see what I can do about the thiamine and niacin (I'll check the feed labels and see if there's some way I can up their feed with that).

 

[saskmomma4]

Just did some research on Perosis and looks like it can be an inherited problem as well and can be treated with manganese suppliment. So I'm going to see if there is a simple source of some of these nutrients that I can incorporate into their water or feed. I'm also going to contact the hatchery too and see if this is something that they see commonly in their birds.

 

[R2elk]

Thank you for your response! I have them living with my broilers and I feed turkey/game bird starter mixed with poultry grower. As I don't have facilities to keep them separated. I have raised heritage turkeys before and never had an issue with them sharing the same feed as the chickens. I'm going to get some vitamin b and put it in the water. And see what I can do about the thiamine and niacin (I'll check the feed labels and see if there's some way I can up their feed with that).

Heritage turkeys aren't quite as susceptible to perosis as are BBWs because of the faster growth of the BBWs.

If it was me, I would feed all of them a quality turkey or game bird starter. It won't hurt the chickens but it will help the turkeys.

Thiamine and niacin are B vitamins which is why it is necessary to use a vitamin B complex which contains all of the B vitamins.

 

[R2elk]

Just did some research on Perosis and looks like it can be an inherited problem as well and can be treated with manganese supplement. So I'm going to see if there is a simple source of some of these nutrients that I can incorporate into their water or feed. I'm also going to contact the hatchery too and see if this is something that they see commonly in their birds.

You can find all kinds of false information on the internet. Perosis is not inherited but the tendency to perosis can be inherited and will exhibit itself if there is a deficiency in the necessary nutrition.

A manganese supplement will not cure perosis.

http://www.poultrydvm.com/condition/thiamin-deficiency