Sick turkey

[WhatsUpDuck]

This is my very uneducated guess, but is he failure to thrive and just having a hard time? Perhaps he just needs more nutrition and time. I wouldn't give up on him if he is improving, and happy.

 

[Sarahlynn18]

This is my very uneducated guess, but is he failure to thrive and just having a hard time? Perhaps he just needs more nutrition and time. I wouldn't give up on him if he is improving, and happy.

As long as he is eating and drinking on his own I have no intentions on giving up on him.

 

[casportpony]

@casportpony

Do you have a recommendation for an antibiotic?

My go tos for turkeys are toltrazuril, fenbendazole, metronidazole, and enrofloxacin.

If they are really sick and losing weight, I do the following:

• Get weight
• Place in a large dog crate or cardboard box in a warm room
• Tube feed fluids. Sick birds are always dehydrated and benefit from fluids
  • Administer 14 mL per pound of body weight; wait 60-90 minutes, then repeat. If no poop is produced by 3 hours after the first tubing, repeat once more.
• Inspect poop.

Birds have two types of poop: regular poop and cecal poop. You can read about it here. I would be really interested in seeing his cecal poop.

It would be helpful to see pictures and a video of him. To upload a video to BYC, read: How to Upload Videos to the Gallery

 

[Sarahlynn18]

My go tos for turkeys are toltrazuril, fenbendazole, metronidazole, and enrofloxacin.

If they are really sick and losing weight, I do the following:

• Get weight
• Place in a large dog crate or cardboard box in a warm room
• Tube feed fluids. Sick birds are always dehydrated and benefit from fluids
  • Administer 14 mL per pound of body weight; wait 60-90 minutes, then repeat. If no poop is produced by 3 hours after the first tubing, repeat once more.
• Inspect poop.

Birds have two types of poop: regular poop and cecal poop. You can read about it here. I would be really interested in seeing his cecal poop.

It would be helpful to see pictures and a video of him. To upload a video to BYC, read: How to Upload Videos to the Gallery

Turkey has been in our home in a dog crate for over a week. Turkey eats (vigorously) and drinks on his own. He has never had any issue eating and drinking on his own.

I had attached in a previous reply a picture of his poop. I will attach a picture of the most recent poop. It has been consistently solid as of late. When I change bedding it is never watery/ diarrhea consistency.

 

[Sarahlynn18]

Turkey has been in our home in a dog crate for over a week. Turkey eats (vigorously) and drinks on his own. He has never had any issue eating and drinking on his own.

I had attached in a previous reply a picture of his poop. I will attach a picture of the most recent poop. It has been consistently solid as of late. When I change bedding it is never watery/ diarrhea consistency.

 

[Sarahlynn18]

The reddish remnants on his face is from this mornings two cut up cherry tomatoes.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Probably not important at the moment, but it looks like a hen to me and not a tom at 7 months of age.

 

[R2elk]

Probably not important at the moment, but it looks like a hen to me and not a tom at 7 months of age.

You are correct, it is a hen.

 

[casportpony]

Do you have a food or postal scale you can use to weigh him?
Can you get some turkey starter?

 

[Sarahlynn18]

You are correct, it is a hen.

It’s not a hen. I promise. Prior to this he was gobbling and strutting. I don’t mean to insult your observation. Since being sick he has not shown colors on his face, puffed, or strutted.