My 15 week old Turkey's head is changing, is tbis normal?

[Butterflies72]

My 15 week old Turkey's head and neck changed 2 days ago. It's neck appeared to be very swollen and head as well. I tried to do so research but was not successful. Today it's neck is less swollen but head looks the same. Is this just it growing up? Or is there a problem?

 

[nchls school]

This is not normal at all; there is a problem. I wish I could tell you what, but I do not know what could be causing such swelling. Check for a wound as it could be an infection.

 

[R2elk]

My 15 week old Turkey's head and neck changed 2 days ago. It's neck appeared to be very swollen and head as well. I tried to do so research but was not successful. Today it's neck is less swollen but head looks the same. Is this just it growing up? Or is there a problem?

This is not common but it does happen often enough that it isn't rare. Your turkey has air leakage into the areas under the skin. If you lance the area with the most swelling, it will allow the air to escape and the swelling to go down. Some people have just stuck it with a needle but that usually causes the the escape hole to close off too soon. In that case, the procedure must be done again. Making a slightly larger escape hole will allow the discharge hole to remain open longer giving the cause of the air leak time to heal while the air is still escaping.

 

[nchls school]

This is not common but it does happen often enough that it isn't rare. You turkey has air leakage into the areas under the skin. If you lance the area with the most swelling, it will allow the air to escape and the swelling to go down. Some people have just stuck it with a needle but that usually causes the the escape hole to close off too soon. In that cas, the procedure must be done again. Making a slightly larger escape hole will allow the discharge hole to remain open longer giving the cause of the air leak time to heal while the air is still escaping.

This is a good thing to know. Thank you.

 

[Butterflies72]

This is not common but it does happen often enough that it isn't rare. You turkey has air leakage into the areas under the skin. If you lance the area with the most swelling, it will allow the air to escape and the swelling to go down. Some people have just stuck it with a needle but that usually causes the the escape hole to close off too soon. In that cas, the procedure must be done again. Making a slightly larger escape hole will allow the discharge hole to remain open longer giving the cause of the air leak time to heal while the air is still escaping.

Thank you for your reply!

How is the lancing procedure recommended if not using a needle?

 

[R2elk]

Thank you for your reply!

How is the lancing procedure recommended if not using a needle?

My neighbor used a pointy scalpel to make a small slit. Some people just use a large gauge needle. Fortunately, I have never had to deal with this issue.

@Bantambird had one of her toms with this issue. Her mother is a vet. Perhaps she will chime in with her experience.

 

[Butterflies72]

My neighbor used a pointy scalpel to make a small slit. Some people just use a large gauge needle. Fortunately, I have never had to deal with this issue.

@Bantambird had one of her toms with this issue. Her mother is a vet. Perhaps she will chime in with her experience.

Thank you! I'll hope for her reply. Figures my 1st Tom and go at raising poultry results in something unusual. I really do appreciate your help and suggestions!

 

[Bantambird]

We used a scalpel when airhead popped his air sac. I don't have pictures on this phone, but we made it a little jagged so the hole wouldn't seal right back up and it was like a drain for air. It did finally heal up in a few weeks but we forever call the dude airhead. We gave one round of antibiotics to cover the jaggy skin hole we made.

 

[Bantambird]

The hole was right on the biggest part of the bubble on his neck. We didn't have to push on it, it just fizzled like a popped balloon.

 

[Butterflies72]

The hole was right on the biggest part of the bubble on his neck. We didn't have to push on it, it just fizzled like a popped balloon.

Thank you. We used an exacto type knife (clean and sanitized) and cut a whole in his head and his neck. It didn't appear that the neck was deflating with the cut to his head so we made two cuts. We cleaned the wounds and he's doing much better today. Surprisingly he didn't squirt too badly and when I released my hold he stayed in my lap.

Thank you both for your help and advice!! I greatly appreciate you both!