Turkey illness

[BrendaSch1]

This is my first year raising turkeys. I have two, they are the white turkeys. One of them seems to have unusually large breast and when I picked it up it seem to vomit. The breast feels like it is filled with air. Any ideas and should I keep it away from the other one. I do have chickens but are penned separately however, they do free range together. Any suggestions?

 

[Breac]

It doesn't sound like your turkey is sick. Unless there are additional symptoms like sneezing, lethargy, odd smells from the beak and so on I don't think there is anything to worry about. it sounds like you just upset the turkey's crop when you picked it up. The crop is the large 'pouch' near the chest where food initially goes after turkeys eat. Food and water often stay in the crop until it is ready for digestion. When turkeys eat, they also eat so fast they swallow air. When people pick them up or push on the crops turkeys can accidentally regurgitate a mix of food and water (or just burp). They should be perfectly fine.

 

[BrendaSch1]

Thank you for your input. I could not find any illnesses to match what was going on with my turkey. He seems fine with the exception of the extremely large breast. Thanks again that really eases my mind.

 

[josephp525]

Hello:

I also have a hen, where the crop seems to hang down like it has a ball in it. I never saw the others with the same condition, so I was wondering if it was normal to do this? Also, the other turkeys are always trying to peck her head off. She is now moved into the pheasant cage. Let me know what you think.

Thanks

Joe