Turkey Talk for 2014

[newturkeygirl]

Just an update on my turkey Fiona. Took her into the vet and had to have her put down. She developed gout, very bad case of it spread to her wings, legs, and hips, and was in a lot of pain. The vet said she was suffering. She was a sweet girl and I'll miss her.

 

[Sydney Acres]

It was -15 with -35 windchill today here in Mi. I was worried, but the birds all did great. No added heat, no insulated coop, although I have straw stacked around it outside and lots of snow around it. 1 more real cold night and then suppose to catch a break. This has been an awful winter.

It sounds like you've made the pen into a modified igloo! Straw and snow are great insulators, especially with lots of bird body heat inside. Hope everyone warms up soon. Be careful and stay safe.

 

[newturkeygirl]

Welcome to the turkey thread.  I'm glad you're enjoying your 2 new birds.  They are fun, and easy to love.  Being sick, I'm sure Fiona enjoyed the heat last night.  I hope everything goes well at the vet tomorrow.  She looks like she's a bronze.  Is she a broad breasted bronze or a heritage bronze?  How old is she?

Thank you. Sad news, I had to put Fiona down tonight. She developed gout and the vet said it was a bad case. He said they don't recover from it. I just got her about a month ago. I found out after a week and a half after I got her she was injured badly. Had a nasty cut in her right breast that was infected. Got some antibiotics in her and she did fine for a few days, then she laid down and wouldn't get up. Her feet started to swell and she didn't want me touching her. I think she was three years old and I wasn't sure of her breed. She was beautiful though.

 

[Sydney Acres]

Just an update on my turkey Fiona. Took her into the vet and had to have her put down. She developed gout, very bad case of it spread to her wings, legs, and hips, and was in a lot of pain. The vet said she was suffering. She was a sweet girl and I'll miss her.

I'm so sorry about Fiona. It's amazing how attached you can get in only a month. Gout can get everywhere, all the joints and even into the kidneys and other organs. Thank you for taking care of her. She was very lucky to have someone that kept her warm when she was uncomfortable on a very cold night, and was willing to stop her suffering, even though it causes you pain to lose her. With time, the memory of her sweetness will be stronger than the sadness of her loss. I hope that time comes quickly for you.

Your other bird may be either more skittish or more clingy now that she is alone. Some birds do well by themselves, and others really need another bird around. But don't be surprised if her behavior changes a bit.

 

[TexasLisa]

Thank you. Sad news, I had to put Fiona down tonight. She developed gout and the vet said it was a bad case. He said they don't recover from it. I just got her about a month ago. I found out after a week and a half after I got her she was injured badly. Had a nasty cut in her right breast that was infected. Got some antibiotics in her and she did fine for a few days, then she laid down and wouldn't get up. Her feet started to swell and she didn't want me touching her. I think she was three years old and I wasn't sure of her breed. She was beautiful though.

I am so sorry for your loss.

Lisa

 

[memphis]

So sorry to hear about Fiona. She was lucky to have you.

 

[newturkeygirl]

I'm so sorry about Fiona.  It's amazing how attached you can get in only a month.  Gout can get everywhere, all the joints and even into the kidneys and other organs.  Thank you for taking care of her.  She was very lucky to have someone that kept her warm when she was uncomfortable on a very cold night, and was willing to stop her suffering, even though it causes you pain to lose her.  With time, the memory of her sweetness will be stronger than the sadness of her loss.  I hope that time comes quickly for you.

Your other bird may be either more skittish or more clingy now that she is alone.  Some birds do well by themselves, and others really need another bird around.  But don't be surprised if her behavior changes a bit.

Thank you so much for your kind words. They really made me feel better. I am thinking about giving the other bird to my neighbor who has been raising chickens for years. She may do better with a flock and she will have a very large coop with more range to roam. She was really attached to Fiona. Again, thank you for your words, I was really attached to her and it was a hard decision

 

[Sydney Acres]

Quote:
I've not heard that before. Hope it works. How long after the frostbite does it need to be applied? I would think it would need to be quite soon, if not before.

I have heard that applying Vaseline to the comb and waddles before the frostbite will prevent it, or at least allow the bird to tolerate a lower temperature. When we were having lows down to 8 degrees I forgot to bring home some Vaseline, so I used some moisturizing lotion ((Alba Botanica Very Emollient body lotion, unscented original formula -- it's bird safe). It did wonders for the comb of my Dorking rooster. The first day of cold temps I didn't remember to apply anything, and when he went in at night to roost his big beautiful comb was nearly flopped over, and he objected more than usual when I touched it. It was ice cold, flaccid, and painful when handled. The roads were icy and it wasn't safe to drive to the store, so I used the lotion. His comb seemed to absorb tons of it, and I kept reapplying it until no more would absorb. Same with the waddles, although he didn't act like they were quite as painful. The next morning the comb was 90% better, and I reapplied it again before I let him out of his house. That evening his comb looked great, but I continued to reapply it twice a day until the temperatures got above 25 degrees, just to be sure. I don't think he had yet gotten frostbite, but he was probably close.

 

[Sydney Acres]

Quote: If you decide to give the other bird to your neighbor, be sure that she knows to introduce the bird to the flock slowly. Chickens are often very sweet, but can be vicious to each other. When a new chicken is brought into an establish flock, she will need to fight to determine her pecking order. Sometimes it can get pretty rough, so she may need some intervention until things settle down.

 

[chickadoodles]

Just an update on my turkey Fiona. Took her into the vet and had to have her put down. She developed gout, very bad case of it spread to her wings, legs, and hips, and was in a lot of pain. The vet said she was suffering. She was a sweet girl and I'll miss her.

So sorry for your loss