Turkey having trouble walking

[ebear82]

Our turkey, who is a little less than a year old, was stumbling around the coop this morning. She'd take a step and then her right side would just collapse and she'd catch herself with her wing. Do you think it's because she's gotten too big? We were not planning on eating her, she's just a pet. She's a bronze-breasted. She also had just laid an egg when I went out there, so maybe her leg fell asleep

. I'm hoping for anything that's not awful, can you tell? Any ideas would be appreciated. There is no visible injury of any kind.

 

[onthespot]

possibly marek's? do a search on BYC for Marek's Disease and see if that fits.

 

[ebear82]

She's not acting like the leg is paralized...she can stand on it fine, it's when she goes to walk that she falls...like a lame horse goes down on the hurt leg. Any other ideas??

 

[ChurkLover]

Did you ever find out what was wrong? My bronze-breasted Tom is acting the same way...not sure what it is.

 

[tinydancer87]

If they are broad-breasted bronze, when they get older and heavier they can develop leg problems. That's why I only have heritage breeds now. I had a broad-breasted tom named Cletus, best pet ever. Sat down one day and couldn't get up.