Turkey poults are here!

[kmb221]

Narraganset turkey poults arrived this AM. Since it took my chicks two days to get here, I suspected it would take that long for the turkeys to get here, but, at 6:00 this AM the post office called and said they were here.

All ten are alive and they seem to be doing well so far. I had no trouble introducing the water and food to them. They put 10 packing chicks in too, so now I have ten more chicks to raise.

 

[kathyinmo]

Congratulations! I hope they do well for you. I am awaiting my delivery now.

 

[laurelsh]

I have 3 Royal Palm turkey poults, about a week old. One got out & got it's leg caught in a trap. Didn't seem to be much damage, just a skin tear, but now 2 days later, the leg joint is swollen & turkey is favoring the leg.
What should I do? Will it get better? I don't want it to be handicapped.

Thanks,
Laurel

 

[ivan3]

laurelsh wrote: I have 3 Royal Palm turkey poults, about a week old. One got out & got it's leg caught in a trap. Didn't seem to be much damage, just a skin tear, but now 2 days later, the leg joint is swollen & turkey is favoring the leg.
What should I do? Will it get better? I don't want it to be handicapped.

What are you feeding them? If you could post a shot showing both legs, that might be helpful. Decreasing chance for further exacerbation or, worse yet, attack by the other two, might require separation, e.g., divide brooder down the middle and place injured poult by itself.

 

[laurelsh]

I'll get a picture in the morning. I'm feeding them turkey starter. The others are not picking at the leg. I did spray the leg with BluCote right away, and it's not picking at its leg, no picking by others. Just unsteady standing on it.

 

[laurelsh]

Here are 2 pix of the Turkey with hurt leg. It is swollen, the discoloration is from BluCote. It seems SLIGHTLY better today. It's now been 4 days..

 

[ivan3]

Still wt. bearing, so that's something. However, I'd guess there might be an infection getting started (along with whatever direct injury to tibiotarsal joint when trapped (crushing injury?). Probably best to treat with a systemic antibiotic to be on the safe side (Pen-G is available at most feed stores). I'd also be giving vitamins (Polyvisol Enfamil - no iron formula - three drops a day x1 wk.and then taper off).

Here is a link to thread on Spraddle leg (though this isn't - some taping/placing in a cup to prevent wt. bearing, etc. methods might be useful: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/41693/spraddle-leg-splay-leg-treatment-instructions

Pretty much just keep on soft bedding and out of the fray with others as much as possible (standard treatment in adult bird is to isolate and keep in low light - less activity - more time to heal). Our Royal poults jumped/flapped and flew into screened cover of brooder at a couple weeks of age - try to keep this one on the ground - landing is the problem.

Good luck!

 

[laurelsh]

Thanks! good advice, I'll separate it out today and start medicating.
Sure appreciate your help!
Laurel

 

[ivan3]

Good luck!

Try soaking 2"x2" gauze pads with warm distilled water and Betadine 10:1 and fold gently over joint for a few minutes at a time x3 a day - until poult becomes restive (cleans and increases circulation) then spray again with the blu-kote. keep as clean as possible. Primary goal is to avoid osteomyelitis (infection in bone) from taking hold (almost impossible to treat successfully).

 

[laurelsh]

Darn, I didn't see your post about the gauze pads until just now, so haven't done that. (I didn't get the auto notification of your post.) Anyway, It seemed to be doing better with being separated and the antiobiotic, but this morning the leg is facing backwards when it stands up. I'm sorry to say, but seems to me it needs to be put down?

Well, after going back and forth for an hour, we decided it would be best for it & us to put it down. We hugged it, told it we were sorry and to get a new healthy turkey body. Thanks for your help Ivan. Are you a vet?