Turkey is acting wierd. HELP!!!

[Postman617]

Hello everyone, I have a Mammoth turkey and he is of monstrous proportions. I have had him for about 5 months. He is 3 years of age (so I was told from the breeder.) He has a pretty long beard about 3 to 4 inches long so I was thinking at least 5 but I am not that knowledgeable. The thing is he is free run and has always been a hoot and a half to toy with if I get reel big and gobble he does the same its hilarious, but lately he has been lying down a lot and not doing much, he eats and drinks but stays laying down and wont roost at night just lays on the ground. I have put him in a coop at night lately for protection because he is not roosting and when I put him in the coop with my chickens he lays down in the hay where my hens are instead of the roost. Is this a problem? Should I be worried? Could it just be I am in Georgia and its really hot this last few weeks?

Thank you in advance.

 

[retlaw]

When my tom got blackhead one of the first signs I noticed was he didn't roast because he couldn't get up that high.

 

[Postman617]

I sure hope that's not the problem but if it is how can I be sure? How can I treat it?

 

[retlaw]

Yellow droppings is a for sure sign.
Read this:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/804570/coping-with-blackhead

 

[Turkeytruff]

Perhaps he has gotten so big that his legs and joints don't support him properly anymore? Is he a broad breasted turkey?

 

[Postman617]

Well the droppings are still normal. He is a broad breasted turkey and about 40 +/- pounds. Was a little bigger when I got him but he was also not free range. He seems normal the past few day just still wont roost. I am worried because I have a few dogs that are fine with the birds when its day time and i'm home. Don't know ow they will act at night.

 

[retlaw]

3 years and a BBB, then he has lived a very very long time for that breed.

 

[Turkeytruff]

I guess you need to decide on his quality of life. If he seems happy enough and not in pain then that is great, but as a BB at 40 lb plus, as retlaw said, it's a long time for that breed.
If you read some of the other forum comments on broad breasted turkeys, some of whom keep them as pets, they have lots of advice on how to keep them as comfortable as possible.
If you think he's too hot, do you have a little paddling pool he can stand/ lie in?

 

[Postman617]

Ok I am so sorry I thought he was a BB but just to make sure I called the breeder I got him from and he is not. He is a mammoth turkey was offspring from a wild turkey.

 

[winteree]

Hello everyone, I have a Mammoth turkey and he is of monstrous proportions. I have had him for about 5 months. He is 3 years of age (so I was told from the breeder.) He has a pretty long beard about 3 to 4 inches long so I was thinking at least 5 but I am not that knowledgeable. The thing is he is free run and has always been a hoot and a half to toy with if I get reel big and gobble he does the same its hilarious, but lately he has been lying down a lot and not doing much, he eats and drinks but stays laying down and wont roost at night just lays on the ground. I have put him in a coop at night lately for protection because he is not roosting and when I put him in the coop with my chickens he lays down in the hay where my hens are instead of the roost. Is this a problem? Should I be worried? Could it just be I am in Georgia and its really hot this last few weeks?

Thank you in advance.

i would start him on some vitamins and electrolytes and separate him if he gets any worse