Minty our french hen and salty our turkey are poorly and we have no idea why

[SuzanneW]

Hello

I so hope I will find some help on here.

I first noticed Minty lying down which although they do this a lot, I had the feeling that something was up and as I approached, sure enough she tried to stand and did but not for very long. Because of this, I was able to scoop her up into my arms but could find absolutely no evidence of an injury. I have sprayed both her legs with some sort of silver stuff that acts as a healing agent and stops peckings from others.

She is eating normal but seems to be getting worse! Her coat is in great condition. Her feet don't look swollen. So my husband and me are rather complexed as to what is going on. When I say she is getting worse, I mean: she was able to stand and walk around a bit, but now - completely not.

We first noticed this with a white turkey called Salty. However, she does have a lump on the front of her foot. She is eating and drinking avidly and is wide eyed, but alas again, she is getting worse.

I have been able to isolate both of them. We have let them out, but poor Salty keeps getting unwanted attention from who we believe is our male turkey - so we guess he is being amorous with her!!

Again, I cannot find anything that would suggest ill health.

Would appreciate any advice on this.

Thanks

Suzanne

 

[dawg53]

You really didnt give much details about Minty. You stated there arnt any injuries to her, then you stated that you sprayed some kind of silver stuff on her legs, acting as a healing agent. This leads me to believe that she could possibly have scaly leg mites, perhaps maybe bumblefoot, or maybe lice/mites, or eggbound is a possibility as well. What color and consistancy is her feces? More information is needed.
I dont know much about turkeys. You described the same symptoms about Salty as you did with Minty except for a lump on the front of Salty's foot which could be an injury or possibly bumblefoot. Bumblefoot requires minor surgery to remove the infection.

 

[SuzanneW]

The reason I didn't give much information on Minty is because there is nothing to give! Her toilet is actually very good; her eating habits are great; she is drinking water - no problem at all! Her legs are normal as well. There are no mites on her at all. That is why it is so bizarre.

I am about to take another look to see if anything is showing ie delayed issues. If I find, I will post again.

Thanks for at least responding.

Suzanne

 

[dawg53]

The reason I didn't give much information on Minty is because there is nothing to give! Her toilet is actually very good; her eating habits are great; she is drinking water - no problem at all! Her legs are normal as well. There are no mites on her at all. That is why it is so bizarre.

I am about to take another look to see if anything is showing ie delayed issues. If I find, I will post again.

Thanks for at least responding.

Suzanne

The reason I asked for color and consistancy of her feces is that alot can be said regarding internal parasites, as well as certain types of diseases that can cross between chickens and turkeys. Specifically cecal worms and blackhead, a protozoa which is carried by the cecal worm in a chicken. If a cecal worm infected chicken feces comes in contact with a turkey, the protozoa is deadly to the turkey. Additionally, there are bacterial infections that the color of feces I recognize can help determine what type of infection it is so that I can recommend a possible treatment.
If everything is normal with Minty, why spray her legs? Why post?

 

[SuzanneW]

The reason I sprayed anyway is because it seems to be coming from her feet or legs and since this stuff does not harm, we figured there it could only do good.

Not sure why you should ask: why post though? Because when ever I put in turkey diseases etc in search, all I get is the place, so when I found this site, I thought I would ask here.

Her toilet is white or off white. Lol to be honest, I don't pay that much attention - usually only if there is something particularly amiss ie runny or water like and it is nothing like that at all.

I have her in a box like cage that we did have our rabbits in, so she can stand or sit but cannot walk. We did read somewhere that if she has a problem with mobility, that we need to keep her still. My husband has wondered if she could be pregnant because our other turkey keeps - well trying to be too friendly lol when ever we try and put her out for fresh air. We then have no choice but to bring her in otherwise he would squash her!

Yesterday, was a beautiful sunny day, and we had her and our lame chicken out together and she did not move once!

 

[SuzanneW]

I have taken a picture of Minty's foot and hopefully you can see that there is a lump there? It is rather spungy to the touch but I notice she did not wince when I felt it!

 

[dawg53]

Look on the bottom of Minty's foot and see if there's a round, dark in color scab. If so, it's bumblefoot. Another possibility could be mycoplasma synoviae (MS,) but with MS there would also possibly be other symptoms.

 

[SuzanneW]

Oops sorry this is salty our turkey. Minty seems to be really doing well thankfully. My husband did not a bump underneath Salty's foot but no black bit; so perhaps the beginning.