Turkey chest wound - what can I do?

[Molpet]

I usually butcher the injured ones. Especially if they are close to 6 months. Mine seem to stop growing while they are healing. Like Wyorp said, it's hard to butcher when I have nursed them through an injury.

Otherwise I
Clean them up, keep in an adjacent pen and hope for the best.

 

[lbfdap21]

I’m not sure what happened, but I suspect a predator tried to attack the flock the night before yesterday. We had people over late, so they didn’t go to roost like normal. The turkey who got injured is the head honcho and I found a lot of feathers in clumps in the front yard.

The other possibility is he got in a fight with one of the other toms, but there were no injuries on his face/neck, so I really don’t know.

My chicken coop has two sections so I moved him out there last night so he has his own little area locked away from everyone else - He’s not happy and neither are the chickens

I can’t butcher myself, and my spouse doesn’t have time to do it today/this weekend, otherwise that’s what would have already happened.

 

[lbfdap21]

Wanted to update- I’m pretty sure his wound was caused by one of the other toms.

I released him back with the flock yesterday and he had a minor tussle with the interim alpha but everything seemed to settle down fairly quickly.

This morning I heard a huge commotion and when I went to check, found him huddled in some bushes with a puddle of blood at his feet.

I’m guessing they ganged up on him and he has a major wound on his neck. Sprayed it down thoroughly with the Vetericyn and wrapped in non-adhesive bandages with gauze wrapped around that to keep it in place. I think the bleeding has slowed, and just a waiting game at this point.

If he makes it, I definitely am not going to be able to butcher him anymore. Had planned on selling/butchering all my turkeys this fall, but looks like I may have a long-term pet now.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Poor guy! He was roughed up

Once he's stopped bleeding, you may want to take the wrap off and leave the wound uncovered.
Keep it sprayed with your Vetericyn.

He looks a bit weak, so if you have electrolytes to give him for a day or two that would be good.

Hopefully he'll heal back o.k. You're right, you may have a pet Turkey on your hands...then you know you may have to get him a lady friend at some point...

 

[Eggcessive]

Poor guy. Sorry that got injured again.

 

[lbfdap21]

Any suggestions on how to keep him warm tonight? It’ll only be 61 but he’s shivering some as it is

 

[lbfdap21]

Poor guy! He was roughed up

Once he's stopped bleeding, you may want to take the wrap off and leave the wound uncovered.
Keep it sprayed with your Vetericyn.

He looks a bit weak, so if you have electrolytes to give him for a day or two that would be good.

Hopefully he'll heal back o.k. You're right, you may have a pet Turkey on your hands...then you know you may have to get him a lady friend at some point...

He has nutri-drench in his water. Fingers crossed that helps

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Any suggestions on how to keep him warm tonight? It’ll only be 61 but he’s shivering some as it is

How is he doing?
Hopefully you placed him in a protected pen with some extra bedding to snuggle into or he's stinking up your office again.
The shivering is probably shock. If you got some PND into him, that can help him come out of it, but him getting warmed a little will be a big help too.

 

[lbfdap21]

How is he doing?
Hopefully you placed him in a protected pen with some extra bedding to snuggle into or he's stinking up your office again.
The shivering is probably shock. If you got some PND into him, that can help him come out of it, but him getting warmed a little will be a big help too.

He made it through the night!!! I added some hay bales to the coop last night as a sort of wind break. When I went to check on him he started throwing a big fit about his neck bandage so I took off the gauze wrap, but left the pads on. They were non adhesive but I guess he was bleeding so badly they sort of stuck to him anyway. I don’t think we are out of the woods yet, but I’m feeling much more hopeful.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

He made it through the night!!! I added some hay bales to the coop last night as a sort of wind break. When I went to check on him he started throwing a big fit about his neck bandage so I took off the gauze wrap, but left the pads on. They were non adhesive but I guess he was bleeding so badly they sort of stuck to him anyway. I don’t think we are out of the woods yet, but I’m feeling much more hopeful.

Hopeful too!

If the pads are still stuck, you can use saline or your vetericyn and wet the pad around the skin and work it loose. It may bleed a little, but usually those pads will come loose if you get them wet.