Sick Turkey??

[DoodleTurkey]

Hi everyone,

I think my little Doodle (2-months-old) has gotten sick. I've noticed her panting/yawning a lot, even when it's not hot, like the room is only 75 degrees. Her poo lately has been stinkier than usual and really soft, and she's had more runny poos than formed ones. She's grown up inside all her life, and I've been militant about keeping her brooder clean, so I have no idea what she might be sick with. Last week I took her outside for a bit of a walk, is it possible she might have eaten something that's making her sick?

She doesn't pant all the time, and seems to still have a good appetite and drinks plenty of water. But she doesn't seem to be as active lately as she usually is, and when she is panting, her wings droop. I would just take her for being hot, but it's just not hot in the room where she is doing this. Her symptoms are just so generic, I haven't a clue what's wrong with her or how to help her recover.

Her only other symptom is one she's had much much longer - her feathers have come in kind of curly. I'm not sure if that is a factor or not. When she was little, I wasn't aware of turkeys protein needs and had her on a 20% starter feed. I have since upgraded her to a 25% gamebird feed (since that's the highest my feed store presently offers).

I've put some vinegar with the mother in her water, and supplemented her food with cayenne pepper (read that was good for turkeys).... her symptoms don't seem affected by this at all.

Does anybody with experience have any ideas??

 

[DoodleTurkey]

Okay, new weird symptom. The space of skin under Doodle's snood has started to swell. It is a very soft lump. I noticed it two days ago, and it has gotten a bit bigger since.


Her snood is raised up by this soft lump under it.



At the base of her beak, under the lump, there is a yellowish spot. Sometimes it oozes a tiny bit of clear liquid.



Side view of the lump.

While this is what her head/snood looked like a week ago:



Is this like an abscess or something? Should I try to open it up and clean it out, or let it be?

 

[mjbws]

Oh no, Doodle! Do any posters have any ideas??? Maybe you can try posting on the chicken threads too ... I wish I knew what to tell you; I hope you feel better soon, Doodle!

 

[mjbws]

Okay, new weird symptom. The space of skin under Doodle's snood has started to swell. It is a very soft lump. I noticed it two days ago, and it has gotten a bit bigger since. Her snood is raised up by this soft lump under it. At the base of her beak, under the lump, there is a yellowish spot. Sometimes it oozes a tiny bit of clear liquid. Side view of the lump. While this is what her head/snood looked like a week ago: Is this like an abscess or something? Should I try to open it up and clean it out, or let it be?

Could it be the start of turkey pox???

 

[DoodleTurkey]

Maybe, I was thinking the same thing. That or sinus infection, but her actual sinuses don't seem to be swelling at all (giving her lots of carrots to keep that vitamin A up!). She seems to be doing better today - she's lively again and her poo is back to normal. Still has this weird swollen thing on her face, but hopefully she's gotten through the worst of it?