squatting, shaking and egg white-like liquid from vent...from my turkey...

[Fraunie]

I'm only asking here because in the past few months, no one on the turkey side of things has had a clue as to what is going on. I am starting to think maybe its an egg issue, and since chickens lay more eggs, I thought maybe someone here would have seen something similar in a chicken. I hope!!

My Bourbon Red turkey will periodically and randomly sit on the ground, slightly spread her wings, shake a bit, and when I look at her vent, it seems bright pink (not sure what color its supposed to be) and there is a clear liquid oozing out that is the consistency of egg white. She has never laid for me, but I am not sure her age, and I inherited her from the previous owner of our house 4 months ago. Usually these episode, I see them a few times a month. Yesterday there were 3 in one day, and once she was really shaking and stomping her feet before she sat on the ground. She is completely docile and almost in a trance when this happens. I can do anything to her and she just sits there. Usually she is more of a grumbler and constantly talks to me.

Has anyone experienced this with chickens?? Any ideas?? I feel so bad for her as she is obviously in pain when it happens..the episodes last 5-15 minutes usually, then she starts squawking and going about her business....

Thanks,

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

When a turkey hen squats to be mounted by a tom, they stomp, get down low and shake their wings. Sometimes they make a "pew, pew" sound when they do it. If you don't have a tom, that's why she's squatting for you. The squatting and shaking is normal. The white egg-like substance oozing from her vent is not. Maybe she's had an egg bust inside her, in which case, you'd probably want to soak her in some warm water and massage her abdomen. If there's anything in there, that'll hopefully help it come out on its own. If it doesn't come out, then you'll have to help it. Very carefully take a finger and feel for egg mess. If its a whole egg stuck, some olive oil will help it to slid out. If its busted, then the little pieces will carefully need to be removed. If they are left, they could cause more eggs to become stuck or infection. This isn't too difficult to do to a chicken, but with a turkey hen you may need an extra set of hands. Good luck, I hope your hen feels better soon!

 

[Fraunie]

Thank you so much. That is what the responders had told me before, that she was squatting for me...or a tom. We just let some 10wk old chicks start free ranging with her and our older 3chickens..and Red has been VERY upset about it. She has been giving me the business all week, squawking up a storm and letting me know her displeasure....so in part that's why I wasn't sure again. I can't feel anything in her abdomen, but next time I will try to soak her and see what is up there if anything. This has been happening for a couple of months, though, so I think if is was a busted egg something else would have happened by now...I was thinking a completely shellless egg????

Who knows!! Thanks!

 

[TabbyG]

Poor lady - I hope she feels better and it resolves soon! Let us know the next time it happens if you find anything.