Plz Help! BBB Turkey Hen Unable to Walk

[KountryKutie]

Plz help! I am new to poultry. I have an approx 4 month old bronze broad breast turkey hen that has lost the ability to walk.
I feel awful because maybe I didn't read the signs sooner. She began losing a bit of coordination about a month ago, would stumble on occasion, etc. She resides with 8 chicken hens of varying age. (They all are doing well, no known health issues etc.). I was feeling chicken feed, game bird feed, and an all flock mix to everyone for simplicity. When I started noticing her coordination, I started on straight all flock because I thought it might be a protein level thing.

Note: I also mix into their feed Thyme, garlic powder, and paprika powder. 2 weeks ago, I also added in Health Multiplier when I realized this may be a niacin deficiency.

5 days ago I came outside and Gerdy couldn't get up. It was clear from her disheveled feathers shed been trying to get up for a while that morning. She was standing the night before. I took her to the vet who said it could be a niacin deficiency and that her joints seemed warm and inflamed. She was given a 5 day routine of antibiotics and anti-inflammatory. After 1 day of meds on board she seemed to be improving. She was able to get up for short bursts, even tho shaky and uncoordinated and would fall. 3rd day I brought her inside because I was worried about her in the TX heat while trying to recover. She also wasn't as actively on her feet anymore. Since then she has slowly redeclined to unable to walk and even sit up right on her own the last day and half. I have to bend her legs for her to sit normal and prop her with towels to let her sit upright. Once she wants to move it becomes a flailing show of her trying to sit up until she just gives up and lays on her side. It's as if she can't get her legs under her to even sit.

She has a voracious appetite! And her poops look good. Vet even said her digestive system is working well. They did a fecal sample ( not sure for what exactly) and it came back clear. She's alert and makes her little turkey noises and even calls for me it seems if I leave a room. She has given a startled call to a noise the TV made too. She hisses at the cats, much to them ignoring her anyways. It doesn't seem to be a disease, she is very alert with clear eyes and an appetite. She doesn't seem to be overly light for her size either so not much weightloss. She just won't use either leg.

Currently, I have some anti inflammatory left from her meds so been dosing that as I have been, she's been on straight game bird feed, she gets black soldier fly larvae at each meal (I put the meds on them) and I have been giving pre/pro and electrolytes and powdered niacin in her water. She still gets the helath multiplier as well. I've cut back on the herb spices atm.
I gave her a warm Epsom salt bath yesterday for about 15 min and that seemed to improve her sitting when I put her down, but didn't last long. I can tell she was very content with the bath tho, as she fell asleep in it. Today she can't support herself to sit upright on her own without towels to support her.

Any ideas? If I can't get her to improve, I feel like it is unfair to continue making her live like this. Which is such a tough decision when she otherwise is alert and thriving beyond walking. I love her to bits and just don't want to see her suffer. I called the vet back, but she is out sick and her peers don't know much about turkeys. I hate just sitting around waiting while she is getting worse. I was supposed to receive a call back whenever they are able. I am open to any suggestions to try to get her better, please.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Unfortunately broad breasted varieties aren't bred for a long life and most are butchered by 4 months of age. They grow so fast their legs can't support their weight and sometimes even break. Some have kept them alive for longer by limiting feed and exercising them.

In my experiences once a turkey goes down it doesn't get back up. You can continue to let it rest, and perhaps make it a sling to get it's leg up from under it. The more a turkey lays down the harder it can be to get up. If it was my bird I would give it a week or so to see if it improves and if it doesn't I would end it's suffering.

Heritage varieties make better pets as they live longer.

 

[Molpet]

BB are Heartbreakers. The meat birds are so personable and sweet.
The breeder BB are fed a very restricted diet. Some charts show skipping days of feed.

 

[R2elk]

Plz help! I am new to poultry. I have an approx 4 month old bronze broad breast turkey hen that has lost the ability to walk.
I feel awful because maybe I didn't read the signs sooner. She began losing a bit of coordination about a month ago, would stumble on occasion, etc. She resides with 8 chicken hens of varying age. (They all are doing well, no known health issues etc.). I was feeling chicken feed, game bird feed, and an all flock mix to everyone for simplicity. When I started noticing her coordination, I started on straight all flock because I thought it might be a protein level thing.

Note: I also mix into their feed Thyme, garlic powder, and paprika powder. 2 weeks ago, I also added in Health Multiplier when I realized this may be a niacin deficiency.

5 days ago I came outside and Gerdy couldn't get up. It was clear from her disheveled feathers shed been trying to get up for a while that morning. She was standing the night before. I took her to the vet who said it could be a niacin deficiency and that her joints seemed warm and inflamed. She was given a 5 day routine of antibiotics and anti-inflammatory. After 1 day of meds on board she seemed to be improving. She was able to get up for short bursts, even tho shaky and uncoordinated and would fall. 3rd day I brought her inside because I was worried about her in the TX heat while trying to recover. She also wasn't as actively on her feet anymore. Since then she has slowly redeclined to unable to walk and even sit up right on her own the last day and half. I have to bend her legs for her to sit normal and prop her with towels to let her sit upright. Once she wants to move it becomes a flailing show of her trying to sit up until she just gives up and lays on her side. It's as if she can't get her legs under her to even sit.

She has a voracious appetite! And her poops look good. Vet even said her digestive system is working well. They did a fecal sample ( not sure for what exactly) and it came back clear. She's alert and makes her little turkey noises and even calls for me it seems if I leave a room. She has given a startled call to a noise the TV made too. She hisses at the cats, much to them ignoring her anyways. It doesn't seem to be a disease, she is very alert with clear eyes and an appetite. She doesn't seem to be overly light for her size either so not much weightloss. She just won't use either leg.

Currently, I have some anti inflammatory left from her meds so been dosing that as I have been, she's been on straight game bird feed, she gets black soldier fly larvae at each meal (I put the meds on them) and I have been giving pre/pro and electrolytes and powdered niacin in her water. She still gets the helath multiplier as well. I've cut back on the herb spices atm.
I gave her a warm Epsom salt bath yesterday for about 15 min and that seemed to improve her sitting when I put her down, but didn't last long. I can tell she was very content with the bath tho, as she fell asleep in it. Today she can't support herself to sit upright on her own without towels to support her.

Any ideas? If I can't get her to improve, I feel like it is unfair to continue making her live like this. Which is such a tough decision when she otherwise is alert and thriving beyond walking. I love her to bits and just don't want to see her suffer. I called the vet back, but she is out sick and her peers don't know much about turkeys. I hate just sitting around waiting while she is getting worse. I was supposed to receive a call back whenever they are able. I am open to any suggestions to try to get her better, please. View attachment 4152174View attachment 4152175

Garlic is an allium. Alliums are toxic to poultry.