Swollen turkey feet and toes

[hinkjc]

His feet look normal to me for a meat turkey. Typically, they are butchered by 16 weeks. Our toms made it to 6 months before experiencing major leg problems. Our hen made it to 3 years. Not a great lifespan, but if you limit feed and encourage exercise (along with ranging for bugs and greens) he can have a decent life.

Jody

 

[Rowanm77]

Thanks! Yes, that's what I've been told. I am a vegetarian so he doesn't have to worry about becoming my dinner! But I do feel sorry for him...he can't help his genetics. He is doing much better with the restricted lifestyle. Today I saw him bend his toes to a 30-40 degree angle off the edge of his platform! He seems in much less pain now too!

 

[Rowanm77]

I just checked and he is about 19 weeks old. I have a picture of him as a chick (turkeyling?) only a day or two old on May 3rd. Maybe his feet are supposed to have thick toes? I have never had a turkey before and only have my chickens, ducks, pigeons, and doves to compare to and they all have slim, neat toes.

 

[arlee453]

OK, I just gotta ask... how did you end up with just one meat turkey??

Susan

 

[silkiechicken]

If you ever raise a meat chicken, you'll understand how fat toes can get. It's normal for meat breeds.

 

[Rowanm77]

Well...Chickerdoodle13 & I went in together on a "barnyard surprise" of chicks from a hatchery back in May and we ended up with 49? chicks, 2 ducklings, and 2 baby turkeys! I also ordered 4 Cuyuga ducklings. I took 14 of the chicks, and 1 turkey and my 4 Cuyugas and she took the rest to raise. 1 of my chicks died so I ended up with 13. I sold a bunch and 2 ducks (the other two are for sale) and raised the turkey too. He is the sweetest thing! And that's how I ended up with 1 meat turkey!

 

[Rowanm77]

Thanks! All of my chickens are supposed to be egg layers and this is my first meat bird so I didn't know their feet get fat. I thought they were swollen but the more I hear from everyone, maybe they are normal and I am just a worried mom?!?!

 

[silkiechicken]

No worries, the worry is normal.

Most people have no idea what a meat bird or their food really looks like and when they really see it... it can be sad. You mean they aren't the brown ones you see on tv!!!

 

[hinkjc]

Here is a pic of Jenny, our meat turkey (Broad Breasted Bronze hen). She was so sweet in her days and tried to be a normal turkey by hiding her eggs in the woods, dustbathing and following us around the farm. They really can live a decent life. We didn't know she was a meat turkey when we bought her and 2 others. Ours were sold to us as "bronze" turkeys.

Here's our standard wild eastern tom, Elmer for comparison. He was her friend and partner for her entire life.

Jody

 

[thndrdancr]

Rowan
Your not just a worried mom. Meat birds can get too fat and die if you dont restrict their diet, so you are doing the perfect thing! Keep it up.