Turkey Poult Can’t Poop, Help!

[linsybird]

This turkey poult has had problems since I got it, and I though he was doing better, but apparently not. I believe it’s about 3 weeks old at this point, and is a broad breasted white turkey.

I went to check on him this evening, and saw he was having trouble pooping. He’s would try, really hard to and I could hear air hiss out, but nothing solid came out. When I took a closer look, I saw his little butt was almost ballooning out. It looks like he ate some wood shavings, and they got stuck. At least that’s the best guess I have from trying to get wipe some poop off of him.

Is there anything I can do to help? I feel horrible for not checking on him sooner, but this morning he was fine! He was doing much better than when I first got him. I’ve tried to get some of the poop out with a short soak in warm water, a washcloth, and a q tip, but I’m not sure I helped much. I tried to include everything I could think of, I’m a but of a wreck right now, I don’t want him to die.

 

[DobieLover]

Have you tried feeding him small bits of cold coconut oil? Try to get about 1 tsp in him.

 

[linsybird]

Would butter or another kind of oil work? I hope that’s not a stupid question, I just don’t have any coconut oil, and it’s nearly midnight, so I can’t really go and get some

 

[Gilded Feather]

Would butter or another kind of oil work? I hope that’s not a stupid question, I just don’t have any coconut oil, and it’s nearly midnight, so I can’t really go and get some

Olive oil should work in place of coconut oil. A few drops of warm olive oil or a dab of Vaseline around his vent might help him as well. You can also mix molasses into his water (enough to make the water look like weak tea) to help loosen his stool.

 

[EggWalrus]

Watch out for yellow poo with turkeys. It's a dead give away that they are infected with the dreaded Black Head! I got lucky and caught it just as the poo started turn yellow. He made it thru the black head but it cost me nearly $100 only to have him hang himself in a tree a few weeks later. Stupid turkey!

 

[linsybird]

Olive oil should work in place of coconut oil. A few drops of warm olive oil or a dab of Vaseline around his vent might help him as well. You can also mix molasses into his water (enough to make the water look like weak tea) to help loosen his stool.

Thanks, I’ll give it a try!

 

[linsybird]

Watch out for yellow poo with turkeys. It's a dead give away that they are infected with the dreaded Black Head! I got lucky and caught it just as the poo started turn yellow. He made it thru the black head but it cost me nearly $100 only to have him hang himself in a tree a few weeks later. Stupid turkey!

He hasn’t had any yellow poop, but then again, he’s hasn’t had any real poop at all I’m pretty sure it’s the pine shavings backin him up

 

[EggWalrus]

He hasn’t had any yellow poop, but then again, he’s hasn’t had any real poop at all I’m pretty sure it’s the pine shavings backin him up

I sure hope so.

Something else to watch for with turkeys is their feathers looking ruffled, laying around sleeping lots, and holding their heads scrunched down to their bodies. All turkey owners should become familiar with the early signs of blackhead and be prepared to act quickly. Most never recover once the yellow poo begins.

 

[linsybird]

I’ve noticed his feathers have looked ruffled, it’s almost was like he never got the hang of cleaning them. I’m trying not to get my hopes up of him making it, at this point I’m not sure what more I can do to help.

 

[EggWalrus]

I can't remember all the dosage details but there are a couple of threads on byc about treating it. I used Fish Zole and then Safeguard goat wormer. Luckily I caught it in time. they had been laying around ruffled a couple days so I got the stuff to treat them from jeffers pet. The very next day the yellow poo started. Some people never have problems with it. Some people have good luck keeping turkeys and chickens together, but from all I've read from various universities and commercial operations, it isn't a very safe bet. I hope you never have to deal with it.