Turkey stumbling, falling backwards

[OneMountainAcres]

Hi everyone, this is Pirate.

I got her in the mail last July as part of an order from Porter's. Out of 17 poults, only she and one other survived more than a couple weeks and on to adulthood. She's always been very agile and quite the escape artist, flying out of the pen daily to free range. About 2 weeks ago I noticed that she hadn't been making her daily escapades. I chalked it up to her growing up and settling down like most of the others do as the get older. A few days later, she seemed off balanced and wobbly, tired and droopy. It's been extremely rainy here for weeks and everything is a muddy mess so I separated her and started treating her with corid for cocci. After doing more research, I found that her balance issues (and dark green, runny poop) could be being caused by a bacterial infection. I haven't been able to find any wounds on her but I started treating her with tylan 50 also at 1 cc, 2 x a day. I just finished day 7 of treatment on her. While she's slightly more willing to eat now (still barely eats), her balance is so much worse. She leans against the wall of her crate and will stumble and fall backwards or sideways often. I'm not sure what else to do for her. I don't see any parasites. I'm very much open to suggestions. I don't want to lose her.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

How's your turkey? Is she used to wearing that saddle. I don't really have any advice unfortunately. She's pretty.

 

[micstrachan]

Sorry about your turkey. How is she doing? Unfortunately, I’m no help in the antibiotic department.

 

[OneMountainAcres]

How's your turkey? Is she used to wearing that saddle. I don't really have any advice unfortunately. She's pretty.

She's still here. At this point she can no longer walk. I've done more research and I think I'm dealing with a case of botulism. I'm doing what I can for her now and just praying that she'll recover. I have the saddle off of her right now since she's not with the others. She's very much used to it though. I make them so they fit in a way that they barely notice that it's on.

Sorry about your turkey. How is she doing? Unfortunately, I’m no help in the antibiotic department.

Thank you. She's advanced to the point of not being able to walk at all. She is alert and wants to move around but just can't. I've resorted to feeding her with an eye dropper now to make sure that she gets something in to her.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

That's terrible to hear. I had a young Tom go that way years ago too. It was from Porters too and was my favorite. He had similar symptoms, and unfortunately he just got worse and we culled. Hope you have a better outcome. I never figured it out either.

 

[R2elk]

She's still here. At this point she can no longer walk. I've done more research and I think I'm dealing with a case of botulism. I'm doing what I can for her now and just praying that she'll recover. I have the saddle off of her right now since she's not with the others. She's very much used to it though. I make them so they fit in a way that they barely notice that it's on.



Thank you. She's advanced to the point of not being able to walk at all. She is alert and wants to move around but just can't. I've resorted to feeding her with an eye dropper now to make sure that she gets something in to her.

http://www.poultrydvm.com/condition/botulism

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/surviving-minnesota.1052702/page-2408#post-18635055

 

[OneMountainAcres]

That's terrible to hear. I had a young Tom go that way years ago too. It was from Porters too and was my favorite. He had similar symptoms, and unfortunately he just got worse and we culled. Hope you have a better outcome. I never figured it out either.

Thank you. I'm sorry about your Tom I wonder if their stock isn't as hardy? None of my own birds have ever had any issues.

 

[OneMountainAcres]

http://www.poultrydvm.com/condition/botulism

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/surviving-minnesota.1052702/page-2408#post-18635055

Thanks for the info. I did start doing an Epsom salt flush. What I read was to do it twice a day for several days. She has her first dose this evening.

 

[Harris14]

Hi everyone, this is Pirate.

View attachment 1402492

I got her in the mail last July as part of an order from Porter's. Out of 17 poults, only she and one other survived more than a couple weeks and on to adulthood. She's always been very agile and quite the escape artist, flying out of the pen daily to free range. About 2 weeks ago I noticed that she hadn't been making her daily escapades. I chalked it up to her growing up and settling down like most of the others do as the get older. A few days later, she seemed off balanced and wobbly, tired and droopy. It's been extremely rainy here for weeks and everything is a muddy mess so I separated her and started treating her with corid for cocci. After doing more research, I found that her balance issues (and dark green, runny poop) could be being caused by a bacterial infection. I haven't been able to find any wounds on her but I started treating her with tylan 50 also at 1 cc, 2 x a day. I just finished day 7 of treatment on her. While she's slightly more willing to eat now (still barely eats), her balance is so much worse. She leans against the wall of her crate and will stumble and fall backwards or sideways often. I'm not sure what else to do for her. I don't see any parasites. I'm very much open to suggestions. I don't want to lose her.

Did you ever figure out what was wrong with her?

 

[OneMountainAcres]

Did you ever figure out what was wrong with her?

No, I ended up losing most of my poults from porter's never knowing why. Only 2 made it to adulthood.