stacymorris
Hatching
- May 23, 2018
- 5
- 2
- 9
A little background - I admittedly had no experience with turkeys, nor any planning, but the lady at the feed store assured us they could be kept with our flock of chickens, which I now know was our first mistake.
We have two turkeys, both are beloved pets of my 11 year old daughter, and will not be used for human consumption, so I am not worried about potential tainting of the meat as we could never eat Bonnie and Clyde now that they've got names (Lord help us). I've read everything I can find about Blackhead, and can't seem to find anything that correlates to the lack of ability to stand. If there is some sort of medication you recommend that we try I'm all for it.
He's now been recovering in his very cushy pen for two full weeks, but seems to have stalled in his improvement. Is there any hope for this poor guy to continue recovery, or are we simply prolonging the inevitable and making him suffer?
Specifics on the list of questions asked in the pinned post:
1) Approximately 1-year old tom turkey, breed unknown, approximately 30-35 lbs.
2) Was limping slightly at onset of illness, then became listless at climax of illness. Condition seems to have improved significantly, but still cannot stand.
3) Has been ill/"off" for several weeks, but illness became severe 2 weeks ago when he was found listless and being attacked by our other turkey.
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms? - No, our flock of 15 chickens seems to be in good health, and our hen turkey has not exhibited any signs or symptoms of illness.
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma? - No, but he does exhibit severe darkening of the head, which leads me to believe that he's been battling blackhead disease.
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation? - Nothing that I can tell that would cause him to not be able to stand/walk.
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all? - Since he became severely ill he's been moved to a quarantine pen inside the garage and is being fed an "all-flock" feed, with some scratch grains, and is being given save-a-chick electrolyte and probiotic solution to drink, as well as plain clean water. He does seem to be eating and drinking fairly well, although his frustration at not being able to stand causes him to flap his wings frequently, which pushes him away from his food and water sources, so he sometimes doesn't have constant access until I realize that he's moved himself away again.
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc. - His poop was very yellow and foamy, but has since become more solid, and green/white marbled almost.
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far? - Quarantined to a segregated pen (with padded walls because of his incessant flapping he was beating his wings up on the wire pen), and he's being given electrolytes and probiotics. I'm not sure what other treatment to administer as I have no experience or knowledge with turkeys unfortunately.
10 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? - I will be the sole treating party, and really just need help in determining if there's any hope in him recovering enough to walk (he won't be placed back with the chickens, but will have his own coop and pen built on another side of the yard in hopes that we can decrease the recurrence of blackhead contamination), or if we are prolonging the inevitable and need to cull him.
11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help. - I can't seem to get a decent photo of his legs or feet as he's so heavy I can't hold him up and snap a photo, but they appear normal, and have no appearance of swelling or bumble.
12) Describe the housing/bedding in use - He's currently inside an un-heated garage, with pine shaving bedding on top of an indoor/outdoor carpet. His pen is a king-size bed frame, wrapped in wire and lined with horse blankets and outdoor furniture cushions to protect his wings when he flaps.
We have two turkeys, both are beloved pets of my 11 year old daughter, and will not be used for human consumption, so I am not worried about potential tainting of the meat as we could never eat Bonnie and Clyde now that they've got names (Lord help us). I've read everything I can find about Blackhead, and can't seem to find anything that correlates to the lack of ability to stand. If there is some sort of medication you recommend that we try I'm all for it.
He's now been recovering in his very cushy pen for two full weeks, but seems to have stalled in his improvement. Is there any hope for this poor guy to continue recovery, or are we simply prolonging the inevitable and making him suffer?
Specifics on the list of questions asked in the pinned post:
1) Approximately 1-year old tom turkey, breed unknown, approximately 30-35 lbs.
2) Was limping slightly at onset of illness, then became listless at climax of illness. Condition seems to have improved significantly, but still cannot stand.
3) Has been ill/"off" for several weeks, but illness became severe 2 weeks ago when he was found listless and being attacked by our other turkey.
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms? - No, our flock of 15 chickens seems to be in good health, and our hen turkey has not exhibited any signs or symptoms of illness.
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma? - No, but he does exhibit severe darkening of the head, which leads me to believe that he's been battling blackhead disease.
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation? - Nothing that I can tell that would cause him to not be able to stand/walk.
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all? - Since he became severely ill he's been moved to a quarantine pen inside the garage and is being fed an "all-flock" feed, with some scratch grains, and is being given save-a-chick electrolyte and probiotic solution to drink, as well as plain clean water. He does seem to be eating and drinking fairly well, although his frustration at not being able to stand causes him to flap his wings frequently, which pushes him away from his food and water sources, so he sometimes doesn't have constant access until I realize that he's moved himself away again.
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc. - His poop was very yellow and foamy, but has since become more solid, and green/white marbled almost.
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far? - Quarantined to a segregated pen (with padded walls because of his incessant flapping he was beating his wings up on the wire pen), and he's being given electrolytes and probiotics. I'm not sure what other treatment to administer as I have no experience or knowledge with turkeys unfortunately.
10 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? - I will be the sole treating party, and really just need help in determining if there's any hope in him recovering enough to walk (he won't be placed back with the chickens, but will have his own coop and pen built on another side of the yard in hopes that we can decrease the recurrence of blackhead contamination), or if we are prolonging the inevitable and need to cull him.
11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help. - I can't seem to get a decent photo of his legs or feet as he's so heavy I can't hold him up and snap a photo, but they appear normal, and have no appearance of swelling or bumble.
12) Describe the housing/bedding in use - He's currently inside an un-heated garage, with pine shaving bedding on top of an indoor/outdoor carpet. His pen is a king-size bed frame, wrapped in wire and lined with horse blankets and outdoor furniture cushions to protect his wings when he flaps.
