Turkey fumble. Life or Death?

AnotherMeOhMy

Songster
Sep 23, 2018
293
489
146
SE Idaho
Hi there. 2 days ago there was a knock on my door. It ended up being some workman tree cutters trimming the trees on the ranch where I live. They said that there was a small turkey dying out by one of their ladders. Apparently it had a broken leg and the other turkeys were pecking it to death.
Its not my ranch but our house is, I would describe as a small ranch hand house with the main house behind ours on a hill where the ranchers live.
So our house is closest to where the trimmers were working on the trees.
So thats why the guys came to me with the issue nstead of the rancher.
I went outside to investigate the issue.
Turns out it was a juvenile turkey and its back was raw. Iv been lovingly calling her? Turkey Burger. She was quite tore up and had a severe compound fracture on her right leg . I didnt expect her to make it through the night but she did.
She is now more alert she is eating and drinking
Im not sure if she will make it a week as she mostly needs anti biotics which we do not have.
WARNING GRAPHIC PHOTOS of injuries
Does anyone have any advice or suggestions on how to keep this bird alive and give it a chance at life
This is the 3rd baby turkey that has been pecked in the yard this way. I didnt want to just sit there and let it happen again. So I decided to take a chance and work wiith her. Now Im thinking Iv bit off more than I can chew. But its a bit late to turn back now. The rancher is not intetrsted in soendibg any funds on a $5 bird. But I already took her in and Im not keen on just snapping her neck. BTW this turkey os from this year's hatch. The birds here are free range and not tame. So this is the first time anyone has really handled her.
Any help or advice thats not killing her and not vet is appreciated.
Below are some pics of her when I brought her in and then the pic in the cage is from last night.The pics after the cage are showing some healing.
 

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Last edited:
I have a variety pack of probiotics and electrolites I can miz into her water.

I added a couple drops of brid vitamins to her water last night.
Iv given her? Some plain yogurt and have offered an assortment of food items. The meal worms are eaten with vigor lol.
Iv had to hand feed her and at first give her water by syringe.
Is this a female?
The age is probably around 3 months old
 
give any electrolites you can (Gatorade, nutria-drench, sav-a-chick) looks like you are doing a good job. did you sanitize the wounds???
Yes I sanitized her wounds before dressing them. All I had was witch hazel so I used a little bit of Dawn soap and witch hazel. When I changed her dressing I used a prescription mouth wash that had a special ingredient that someone recommended. I covered the back wound on day 1 after cleaning and disinfecting. I blended a small mixture of antibiotic ointment and vaseline to lightly spread over the wound and covered it with clean bandaging. On day two after cleaning I left it to air dry and the pics show both the raw back and the drying up back
 
First, get that turkey some species appropriate food. Feed store, TSC, ect. Second, can you splint the leg, that will help alot.
I have species appropriate feed as well well as chick starter and chick grower. Iv raised a rejected chick from a hatchling who is now about 70 days old :)
So I have whats left from that as well as the feed this turkey has been getting in the yard since she has been here. So we are good in that part of things
 

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