Sick Turkey..Help!

[knm1202]

Hi guys,
My year old Royal Palm tom , Crackers, has suddenly become sick. He went from strutting around non-stop to sitting in the coop all day or laying just laying in the yard. And he doesn't eat or drink anything. I've tried giving him bread and things he liked to eat in the past but won't touch now. It's strange because he doesn't appear outwardly ill (no ruffled feathers, etc) but just isn't acting himself. We don't have a vet who take poultry where I live so any I go would be greatly appreciated! These are some before and after pictures of him.

 

[rnt2005]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/531269/lethargic-sick-turkey

I found this thread, not sure what it could be personally. I hope it helps.

 

[ivan3]

Poor guy doesn't look good at all. First thing I suspect with sudden onset and rapid deterioration is some toxin (contaminated feed/old grain/corn). To keep him alive you have to get him to drink. If you have any pedialyte (water will do - with just a little sugar and salt dissolved in it) use a dropper/baster, hold up head and SLOWLY drip water into side of open beak (see if he will swallow). Wish I had better advice for your tom.

Hoping for the best.

 

[kuntrygirl]

Poor guy doesn't look good at all. First thing I suspect with sudden onset and rapid deterioration is some toxin (contaminated feed/old grain/corn). To keep him alive you have to get him to drink. If you have any pedialyte (water will do - with just a little sugar and salt dissolved in it) use a dropper/baster, hold up head and SLOWLY drip water into side of open beak (see if he will swallow). Wish I had better advice for your tom.

Hoping for the best.

x2 I agree that you have to get something in him. If he doesn't eat and drink, he will be dead in a few days. How long has it been since he has eaten last.

Sorry to hear about your handsome boy. Makes me sad to see when animals are not feeling well.

I don't know if you would be comfortable with crop tube feeding but here is my link on what I have done in the past with my birds. If you lived close to me, I would go over there and tube feed him for you.

My Crop Tube Feeding Journey With My Bird (Pics For Visuals- VERY detailed Post)
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...h-my-bird-pics-for-visuals-very-detailed-post

 

[kuntrygirl]

Forgot to ask, what color is his poop? Can you post pics of his poop?

 

[knm1202]

Thanks guys! His poop is light yellow and runny. He drank a small amount of water yesterday but didn't eat. Thanks for the advice about tube feeding him, I'll attempt it if he still doesn't eat today. Would antibiotics be helpful? I know our local feed store supplies some and I'm in nursing school so injections are no problem for me to do.

 

[ivan3]

Thanks for the info on the droppings. Please check this thread (may or may not be Histomoniasis but yellow, runny, droppings would a diagnostic for it):

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/804570/coping-with-blackhead

 

[casportpony]

Thanks guys! His poop is light yellow and runny. He drank a small amount of water yesterday but didn't eat. Thanks for the advice about tube feeding him, I'll attempt it if he still doesn't eat today. Would antibiotics be helpful? I know our local feed store supplies some and I'm in nursing school so injections are no problem for me to do.

I hope this isn't too late... If he has blackhead you would need to start him on metronidazole (Flagyl), which you can buy online as Fish-Zole 250mg tablets or you can get some API General Cure Powder (250mg metronidazole and 75mg praziquantil) from Petsmart or maybe Petco. The effective dose is no less than 30mg/kg (30mg per 2.2 pounds) orally once a day for five days.


Check the back of the box and verify that it has 250mg metronidazole!





-Kathy

 

[knm1202]

Thanks Kathy!
I'll look for that. Do you think they may carry it at petsmart?
He's still hanging in there, he's been drinking water with a nutritional supplement added and has been standing up more. He still stumbles when walking and seems like his balance is still off. Are balance problems common with histomoniasis?

 

[casportpony]

Thanks Kathy!
I'll look for that. Do you think they may carry it at petsmart?
Petsmart does carry it: http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=10850833 . Just remember to check the back for the proper ingredients.
He's still hanging in there, he's been drinking water with a nutritional supplement added and has been standing up more. He still stumbles when walking and seems like his balance is still off. Are balance problems common with histomoniasis?

The blackhead I have seen here causes them to get weak and they don't walk well because of that, so maybe that's what you're seeing? Are his poops still yellow?

You'll need to figure out how much he weighs and possibly dose him with more than one package.

-Kathy