Neck Dancing Turkey Poult

[wolfie115]

So recently we hatched a bunch of baby turkeys, at first all seemed well but then we've been having some problems occur. We lost one baby, not sure why but he laid around a lot and refused to eat or drink anything. We have another one however that does a "neck dance" and it worries me. He gets stuck looking straight upward and sometimes even falls over because he's craning his head back so far. It comes and goes in phases but has been seeming to get worse. He does however eat and drink pretty well, I've seen him in the food dish moreso than the healthier ones.

My question is, is there anything I can do to help him? Sometimes I take him out and hold him for a minute till he stops craning his head back but soon as I set him back in the brooder he starts up again. He's a cute little guy, and the only one of his color so I'd like to try to help if I can.

 

[Michael Apple]

It could be Encephalomalacia which is caused by a diet deficient in Vitamin E. Here's some info on it: http://www.thepoultrysite.com/publications/6/diseases-of-poultry/218/vitamin-e-deficiency
I don't know what you are feeding the turkey poults, or if you are supplementing vitamins-electrolytes in the water. If you are, make sure there is Vitamin E content, if you aren't, start doing it. I hope your little buddy recovers.