Turkey collapsed. What can I do to help?

[lengel]

I raised three turkeys, one tom and two hens. They are pets.

They started mating just before winter. The hens just started laying and our tom became very enthusiastic. Five days or so ago, he collapsed. I thought that he may have had a heart attack. He was stretched out on the ground in the coop, eyes closed and panting. He was able to move around after a day and the day after that, he was able to stand for periods of time but his head was hanging.

Now he seems fine except that he isn't gobbling and isn't very active.

Is there anything that I can do for him other than keeping him in a quiet, secure environment?

 

[kuntrygirl]

OMG!!! I'm so sorry to hear about this. Any signs of illness? How do the eyes, feet, nose, mouth, etc. look like?

 

[lengel]

Everything looks good. No discoloration, blood, growths. He was very active just before the incident. Today he was up and around and eating. I think I heard him gobble earlier. I swear, he must have had a stroke or heart attack.

 

[kuntrygirl]

That's strange. Is he doing ok today?

 

[lengel]

He's doing fine as of this morning. It was all very strange. I was convinced I was losing him for about two days but I guess peace and quiet helped him recover. I've had turkeys for about five years now and have never seen anything like this.

 

[KrisH]

what kind are they? Glad he is doing better.

RobertH

 

[kuntrygirl]

He's doing fine as of this morning.  It was all very strange.  I was convinced I was losing him for about two days but I guess peace and quiet helped him recover.  I've had turkeys for about five years now and have never seen anything like this.

Glad to hear that he is doing better.

 

[lengel]

He's a bronze breasted. Just a beautiful bird and very helpful with calling the chickens in when there's a predator nearby. I'm so glad he recovered.

 

[ColbyNTX]

You are lucky to have had a BBB to live 5 years. If they are breeding and having fertile eggs then they are most likely to be a BBB X or not the best BBB genetics which is great if you want them for pets. BBB's are bred by AI because the Tom's breast should be too large to let him successfully breed. It does sound like a stroke or heart attack. Keep him restricted in his activity or the next time he might not make it! Next time try some heritage bronze. They are longer lived, healthier birds.