Please Help Baby Turkey

[mthomas]

Hi, Please help!!! I have a baby turkey about 4 weeks old. He was doing just fine then all of a sudden one morning i went to get him out and he would not stand or even try to put weight on his legs. He is still eating and drinking but all he does is lay there and it has been about four days now. I dont know what to do! He is so sad.

Please help
michelle

 

[A.T. Hagan]

What have you been feeding him?

 

[mthomas]

I started on chick starter but have since switched to game bird starter

 

[kuntrygirl]

How is your turkey doing this morning?

 

[mthomas]

Still eating and drinking but still won't stand

 

[MissTurkey4]

My guess is you have a broadbreasted turkey with a pemanant leg disorder. It is a growth problem in both turkeys and broiler chickens.

 

[teenchik]

I don't have turkeys YET, but I have dealt with many chicks and things even the meat birds.

I don't think it's a growth disorder...... they don't just suddenly pop up like that normally...... will it let you move it's legs and feel them? Is it surronded by other birds? I know mine have hurt their legs. About a year ago I had one with brocken TOES and it laid there like that we thought it had a spinal injury. I went with trial and erroe see if wrapping its leg, with ( the stretchy bandage rap that sticks into its self.... jeez whats it called...... ) or you could use medical tape thats what we used for the longest time......, helps then if it doesnt try it's toes and if it doesnt try the other leg then other toes. It needs LOTS of tlc and turkey therapy.

Birds develope bonds quickly when they're dependent. hold it close to you and carry it around feed it from your hand and then put it down about six inches from you AND food, put your face (eyes) on the level that your at and see if you can get it to struggle over to you. If it does GREAT wait a while then do the same thing with it twelve inches away and gradually increasing then it'll be practicing walking and HOPEFULLY figuring it out.
I've done this with disformed knees, weak legs at hatch, broken toesand legs, dog attack victims etc. but they were all chickens....

Idk if it changes a whole lot.... but it's the best I've got.

 

[mthomas]

thanks for the information. We have separated our turkey from all the others until we figure out what is going on. I will definitely try wrapping the legs and toes and see if that helps. I have been searching and searching for answers. He is definitely getting alot of attention he is going to end up very spoiled!! I will post update on how he is doing.

thanks again!!

 

[mothershedfarms]

If he is a broad breasted it is more than likely leg deformation, it just happens to them, there is nothing u can do about it, and it can happen overnight, it's happened to mine and some cornish rock broilers (that i will not be raising anymore). Its because of their unusual growth rate that has been breed in them that is so unnatural. i can't see any chickens breaking a turkey's legs either, but turkeys do not need to be raised around many chickens at all, chickens can carry infections and not show it, but the turkey will get it very easily, thats why they are so hard to raise.