Turkey fell off slaughter truck- Rescued but needs help!

[Isaac 0]

Just had a thought... since he cannot walk, be very careful if you decide to use a heat lamp. I like the idea of keeping him in a warm room, but use of a lamp worries me because they can get too hot under them.

This will be especially true if you decide to put him in a swing.

 

[Windus]

A few days of a little love and kindness is more than this bird could have ever hoped for. Hoping for a good outcome but even if he does not live long, this end will be a lot more pleasant than what was in store for him. Good for you for trying to help him.

 

[elaineinspain]

Haha I do, she is actually one of my best friend's ex girlfriends (was a happy surprise that she was working at this particular vet's office when I walked in!). Luckily they are still on friendly terms, and she is happy to help me to the best of her ability! She did tell me up front though that she is not an expert in these sorts of animals, but there is nowhere really nearby that is (without spending a small fortune)

Vets experienced with fowl are few and far between - the advice you're getting here is more than likely as good or better than a vet can give you. Is there anyway you can bring Sebastian into a spare bedroom/guest room? Then at least he'll be warm without the risk of getting cooked under a heat lamp, especially as he can't walk because of his weight/breeding.

 

[casportpony]

Vets experienced with fowl are few and far between - the advice you're getting here is more than likely as good or better than a vet can give you. Is there anyway you can bring Sebastian into a spare bedroom/guest room? Then at least he'll be warm without the risk of getting cooked under a heat lamp, especially as he can't walk because of his weight/breeding.

While I agree that you can get good advice here on BYC, and that poultry vets are hard to come by, I don't think anyone should under estimate the knowledge of the average cat/dog/large animal vet. They know way more about proper wound care, hydration, medications and dosing than the majority here. They also have access to veterinary websites that we do not.

 

[PureBigBird]

Kind person are you. Turkeys do not accept change very well-they like consistency of habitat and daily routine is very important, but with tlc, affection, diet, fluids and someone to notice the subtle signs of illness or injury--they thrive. He may be filled with inflammation from the fall? He might need antibiotic like tetracycline powder from qcsupply or farm store supply company near by to heal internal issues-during falls, gizzards, etc get bruised and inflamed? For inflammation, can use an aspirin or max dosage of .5 cc of banamine for a 20lb turkey (vet can prescribe) daily. All NSAIDS have risks, but low dosage is fine if given once daily. Would introduce aspirin slowly if using, by giving only 1/2 of a tablet (orange flavored) 81 mg baby aspirin in PM. (see blueberry method of administration) Also, you can get fenbendazole pellets (safe guard) - only needs 1 pellet a day for 6 days for deworming every month if grazing outside. Fenbendazole pellets are easy to administer. Use a blueberry-stuff the pellet in the middle of the blueberry. Gobble Gobble. Or search via internet Fenbendazole for chickens, poultry or livestock, but BYC has many posts about deworming. My vet told me to give the pellets-some people use liquid. Looks like he would like a nice warm bath too, and check for lice or mites?-at some point. I do not read all the posts-this may be duplicate information. Turkeys love cooked frozen peas for biotin. Might need "a little" low sodium tuna for 2 or 3 days? Feeder pellets of 22 - 22% protein? Too much protein can cause phosphorus imbalance. They will live as long as 5 years if you don't allow them to overeat. Is the bird a BBB white or a heritage bird (regular size turkey)? After he gets use to his environment and gets care needed, If BBB, feed 3/4 c pelleted food 2 times daily and 12 blueberries, 1/4 peas and 1/2 c to 1 cup of greens like spinach or kale daily. He will not get FAT this way, but stay nice and live longer. He may take off a few lbs from the injuries? Turkeys in pain may not eat as well. I've had to hand feed by putting food into mouth. People are telling you that he will not live long because the poultry farm probably stuffed the turkey with food-and quickly which causes the birds to have enlarged organs.--Have to give hope here: A person who breeds specialized turkeys and specializes in genes told me that they can live a long time with proper diet and care-he bred BBB, then just stuck with heritage birds. This bird could live as long as 3 years with good care. IF you get them as babies, and do not STUFF them and they graze, they can live longer. As others have said, no bath yet, and softer foods, I suppose at first. Important to get fluids (much daily). A syringe at TSC could help, but you really need a 1 inch white tip to put on the ends of the syringes to give fluids orally in mouth. Can get several from a vet offices without a patient available. Tell them about injured creature. Have had injured wild turkeys come to the home; they really enjoyed fluids, meal-worms, berries and sunflower seeds, and, a place to dust bath, the garage (left open)-can never shut-up something free, and kindness. Talk turkey! (let those wild be free). Saw the body condition document-I stand in front of my birds, then place my hand under the bird-examining the two front breast areas & in the middle-there you can feel the condition of a bird-by the cleavage in the middle and feel the amount of breast tissue on each side of the bone/cleavage. And can run your hands all along the sides of the body and legs this way too. Do this regularly-also examine inside the mouth and the rear. Any changes need attention. My birds were raised with floor fans nearby to cool them in Summer and Fall.

 

[GrandpaUtz]

This will be especially true if you decide to put him in a swing.

Smart. I actually have, again, thanks to my keeping of reptiles, a thermostat switch that has a 6 foot lead that I can plug the heat lamp into, then when the lead measures the temperature as being too high, it will shut off. Would that be a good idea? And what temperature should I set it at?

A few days of a little love and kindness is more than this bird could have ever hoped for. Hoping for a good outcome but even if he does not live long, this end will be a lot more pleasant than what was in store for him. Good for you for trying to help him.

Thank you, that's what I am hoping. If he doesn't make it, at least he will be comfortable his last couple of days.

Any chance you could call the vet and ask about getting some pain relief for him (Meloxicam)? Also ask about giving subcutaneous fluids and tube feeding.

I asked her and she said the feeding and fluids shouldn't be necessary as long as he is drinking water, which he is doing a lot of. She also is going to release some generic Meloxicam once I can get home and weigh him

 

[casportpony]

S
I asked her and she said the feeding and fluids shouldn't be necessary as long as he is drinking water, which he is doing a lot of. She also is going to release some generic Meloxicam once I can get home and weigh him

Perfect! I like your vet!

 

[casportpony]

Smart. I actually have, again, thanks to my keeping of reptiles, a thermostat switch that has a 6 foot lead that I can plug the heat lamp into, then when the lead measures the temperature as being too high, it will shut off. Would that be a good idea? And what temperature should I set it at?

Start low, like 75-80? Increase if tolerated.

 

[GrandpaUtz]

Start low, like 75-80? Increase if tolerated.

Will do! I think it's over 80 outside right now so he should be good for now.

I have 2 bulbs, a Ceramic heater that just emits heat but no light and a standard type heat bulb. Would it be better to have him in the dark during the night with the ceramic bulb?

 

[Isaac 0]

Smart. I actually have, again, thanks to my keeping of reptiles, a thermostat switch that has a 6 foot lead that I can plug the heat lamp into, then when the lead measures the temperature as being too high, it will shut off. Would that be a good idea? And what temperature should I set it at?








The temp for sick birds is usually 85-90F.But he is so big i would go for 75F.Increase if needed.