Turkey swollen wattle

[Jmcintosh23]

I noticed it this evening and I thought well this doesn't seem right. Is there something wrong with my turkey? The other one looks fine

 

[R2elk]

View attachment 3922468View attachment 3922469View attachment 3922470View attachment 3922471I noticed it this evening and I thought well this doesn't seem right. Is there something wrong with my turkey? The other one looks fine

Looks like your turkey has an air leak. Feel the swollen to see if it is filled with air. If it is air, the cure is to lance it and let the air out. A small jagged cut works better than piercing with a needle. The hole made by a needle will normally close back up before the place the air is leaking from heals.

 

[Jmcintosh23]

Looks like your turkey has an air leak. Feel the swollen to see if it is filled with air. If it is air, the cure is to lance it and let the air out. A small jagged cut works better than piercing with a needle. The hole made by a needle will normally close back up before the place the air is leaking from heals.

How does it happen??

 

[R2elk]

How does it happen??

They have an air sac they can inflate. One of the more common causes is a small rupture caused while fighting with another turkey. It seems to be most common among toms.

 

[Jmcintosh23]

Will it hurt to lance it?

 

[R2elk]

Will it hurt to lance it?

If it is air filled, it should not hurt. You only want to go through the skin so the air can escape. You do not want to cut into muscle or other tissues.

 

[Jmcintosh23]

If it is air filled, it should not hurt. You only want to go through the skin so the air can escape. You do not want to cut into muscle or other tissues.

O yeah definitely just nervous about it.. so it should heal fine then do I need to apply anything after air escapes. Vaseline? Idk I've never done anything first aid to the animals if the chickens have small cuts they usually heal up pretty good. Once I accidently left two rabbits together and on but the others nose when I was changing cages.. well I was sad about that but the other rabbit is healing and doing well. Won't do that again.. thanks for your help though!! I was worried I needed to quarantine.

 

[R2elk]

O yeah definitely just nervous about it.. so it should heal fine then do I need to apply anything after air escapes. Vaseline? Idk I've never done anything first aid to the animals if the chickens have small cuts they usually heal up pretty good. Once I accidently left two rabbits together and on but the others nose when I was changing cages.. well I was sad about that but the other rabbit is healing and doing well. Won't do that again.. thanks for your help though!! I was worried I needed to quarantine.

Just get the air out and leave the lanced spot open so that air can continue to escape while the leak is healing.

Turkeys can heal very well from most injuries on their own.