Please help. My turkey can't walk and I don't know what's wrong.

[newturkeygirl]

I am so sorry to hear that things didn't work out. They are considerably more work than chickens but they are also very rewarding too. What breed did you have? If you get another turkey I'd go for a heritage breed that will not gain as much weight have less chance of health problems because they are not genetically altered. Lucky is a Broad Breasted White (genetically altered breed to gain lots of weight in a short time) and I believe that has been the cause of her health problems. She has lost between 5-7 lbs since being in the house and I plan on continuing a healthy diet for her to keep her from gaining too much.

Best wishes, Megan

Fiona was a heritage bronze breasted turkey. She was beautiful and so sweet. I want to find another because I did read that they are the best for pets. I may not have told you but she did have a large gash on her breast that got infected. We were able to take care of that but then the gout set in. I'm thankful I have a vet here in my town who knows so much about turkey's and loves them as much too. He was very good throughout the whole process.

 

[chooks4life]

Sorry for your loss.

Gout is often treatable, not that it can be helped quickly once it's progressed too far, in which case the suffering is a humane issue; but if you intend to buy again from the same breeder, or the same breed, I would recommend you research why she got gout. Diet? Genetics? Both? It's possible too that her gout was a secondary infection from her breast wound.

Best wishes.

 

[newturkeygirl]

Sorry for your loss.

Gout is often treatable, not that it can be helped quickly once it's progressed too far, in which case the suffering is a humane issue; but if you intend to buy again from the same breeder, or the same breed, I would recommend you research why she got gout. Diet? Genetics? Both? It's possible too that her gout was a secondary infection from her breast wound.

Best wishes.

Thank you for the info. Yeah I had not had her long. My neighbors got her as a baby from the local feed store. They raised her in the backyard and she was able to free range. They are moving and gave her to me. The vet said that the wound had been there for some time before I got her. He said the gout probably came from her diet, but we would need to send off for tests to make sure. Because she was the only turkey I had and wasn't sure exactly where she came from I didn't see a need to do testing. The vet said the gout had spread all the way to her wings and it was bad in her legs. I couldn't let her suffer. I knew she was in pain. It was a hard decision. He did say that they don't recover from gout. He said he could give her pain meds but it would only prolong her suffering.

I really do want to get another one though. I enjoyed her so much.

 

[DylansMom]

I am so sorry to hear that things didn't work out. They are considerably more work than chickens but they are also very rewarding too. What breed did you have? If you get another turkey I'd go for a heritage breed that will not gain as much weight have less chance of health problems because they are not genetically altered. Lucky is a Broad Breasted White (genetically altered breed to gain lots of weight in a short time) and I believe that has been the cause of her health problems. She has lost between 5-7 lbs since being in the house and I plan on continuing a healthy diet for her to keep her from gaining too much.

Best wishes, Megan

Hi there, I know I'm joining this conversation kinda late, but I wanted everyone to know that diet can make a huge difference for the broad breasted whites. This is our girl "Turtie" named by my 3 year-old son. Turtie will be approx. 9 years old this spring. She has been with us for almost 8 years and she is still mobile at this time. The picture was taken last spring. Mindy

 

[casportpony]

Wow, nine years old? I have two that will be three this year and I try to keep them as lean as possible.

-Kathy

 

[DylansMom]

Yeah, we lucked out. I was a total know-nothing when it comes to turkeys. This girl escaped from the slaughterhouse and hid in a co-worker's backyard. The co-worker knew I had Peacocks and since she didn't know anyone else who had any poultry, she brought the turkey to me. We just kind of let her run around and do her own thing, she stuck to the barn mostly, because the other birds were there. I did do a bit of research, and learned about limiting the diet. After that we just treated her as if she were a Peacock, wormed her with them, supplements, etc.... I know she won't be around much longer, I think the life span is 8-10, so we're right there.

Mindy

 

[casportpony]

I wormed mine the other day and wow, that was a lot of wormer!

-Kathy

 

[chooks4life]

@DylansMom:

She looks in great health. You've done well, and yeah, like you say, apparently lucked out as well.

Quote: I understand, and there isn't too much point when her ancestry is more or less untraceable.

I would take what the vet said with a pinch of salt though. I'm not saying he didn't know his stuff in general, nor that you should disregard the information he gives you, but it's amazing how much a well educated doctor or vet may not know, or may dismiss as unproven without knowing that it's actually proven, or even may dismiss on weak or nonexistent grounds like personal prejudice, which is far more common than one might suspect. There are many schools of thought too, with their devotees, and various fully accredited professionals can have utterly conflicting beliefs which can save or kill your animals, or yourself. Many times, too, unpopular or unconventional medicines and treatments are disregarded and derided because they are simply not mainstream yet. There are actually some very backwards doctors and vets out there as well.

All medicine and all treatments began as controversial new "alternatives", it pays to remember, and what was the scorned "witchcraft" of yesterday often matures into tomorrow's acceptable treatment. Not always, of course, just saying that it's always good to keep a critical but open mind despite the currents of the mainstream. The power of the mocking pooh-pooh (lol) is best likened to the power of superstition. People often dismiss something that seems too simple or easy because they want to see the blue sparkling smoke to believe they are healed, they want the magic act as well as the science underlying it. Even many of the ancient "witchdoctors" of various cultures knew the power of a good show was often worth more than the supposed cure. Now I've strayed off into vagaries but I hope you know what I mean, anyway... I am not saying people are all stupid, because I don't believe that, just saying that our expectations of the appearance of an efficacious cure can be nigh on superstition.

I recently participated in a bizarre debate between a few doctors regarding whether or not lemon juice can lower the ph of a human body. (Even my very limited chemistry can understand that, lol!) The simple error some of these very highly educated folks were making was to equate the human body with a glass of water. It is simply amazing the errors in comprehension even a professional can possess.

We've had to remind doctors a few times to sterilize their stitching materials before using them, and remove the air bubble from the needle before injecting painkillers, etc. Vets have had to be reminded to change the used needle between injecting different animals. Sometimes, respecting the professional apparently excessively, we have said nothing, and have paid the price.

Sometimes a vast and glittering castle of knowledge is built on a base that's missing a few tiny, simple, humble, yet vital bricks. To make a cheesy analogy. Never trust even a professional 100%, they're only human after all and humans make mistakes.

Best wishes with your future turkeys.

 

[Welch Wizard]

Thank you for the advice I have a turkey "Muffin" with the same problems following an attack from the Geese, I moved her now and will consult my vet as she is a pet we do not wish to lose her

 

[pamelageier]

If you find out what's wrong please let me know and the outcome. My turkey is doing the same thing. He is a BBBq and 4 months old. All this started the day he was attacked by a rooster . His feet go straight behind him one at a time he curls the toes on the leg pulled up front. He has been in the house 2 weeks now and has no other symptoms.