Serious Problems

[Ranger1]

My friend has three baby turkeys that are six to eight weeks old. So far two of them have VERY suddenly gotten unable to stand or walk. I brought all of them to my place and put them on antibiotics, and all are eating and drinking well, but the two still can't walk. Help, please!!!!

 

[LarryPQ]

Electrolytes and sugar water, STAT!

 

[Ranger1]

Do you have any idea of what this might be? I really want to help these little ones, and learn why this happened.

 

[geepy]

Had the same thing happen, The poults were doing fine and now they are dropping like flies. Can't walk and get to the feed and water. I've lost five so far. I'm not sure what to do?

 

[ColbyNTX]

What breed are these, are they broad breasted? What where they eating?

 

[LarryPQ]

Poults need SO much protien and energy to sustain their growth, they often can't keep up with their body's demands. The dehydrate quickly, lose electrolytes, and become disoriented/dizzy. Combine this with their natural stupidity (poults often need to be shown to food and water repeatedly) and the poor poults dehydrate and starve to death.

Bigger brains later means more care earlier in life.

I had this happen with my first hatch of poults. I killed 5 of 6 before I realized they needed some "force-feeding" of sugar water. Now I keep the electrolyte water closer to the EcoGlow, and the regular water further away. I drop food directly in their nesting box, and keep a BIG trough of it at the other end of the brooder. For the first week of life, all the poults get force-fed sugarwater.

NOW-- all that being said, there could be somehting else going on with your chickies, but I do not know what. Sorry.