Turkey Talk for 2014

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My last poult, hatched last night, is splay legged. I put a band aid hobble on him but he doesn't seem to be trying to get up. He's in with the other chicks and poults. I've dipped his beak in water and they've scratched feed everywhere, so he can help himself to that. This is my first time with this problem. What should I be doing? Also, can this be genetic? I'll be able to spend time watching tonight to make sure everyone is eating and drinking
 
Reyvaughn said:
Yes, well, he's nearly 2yrs old and just started behaving like this last summer. He wasn't mean at all before.

ETA: He's also the foundation to my bantam chocolate Orp flock and still kind of important until this new cockerel can replace him. His one son is mean - also didn't start that way. His other is as docile as the hens.
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Sorry about your poults!
hugs.gif

You could put him in a kennel or something like that, and only let him service the hens every two weeks and back in the kennel. Till your young one can take his place.
That is what I would do... j/s
hu.gif
 
Last edited:
I found the turkey hen who I thought had flown away. She's been on a nest this whole time. Looks like I'll be getting some more royal palms, after all. So now have three broody turkey hens. Hope they make good moms!
fl.gif
 
gevshiba said:
My last poult, hatched last night, is splay legged. I put a band aid hobble on him but he doesn't seem to be trying to get up. He's in with the other chicks and poults. I've dipped his beak in water and they've scratched feed everywhere, so he can help himself to that. This is my first time with this problem. What should I be doing? Also, can this be genetic? I'll be able to spend time watching tonight to make sure everyone is eating and drinking
Click to expand...

My favorite pet ever, Sydney, started out with splay legs, the worst I've ever seen. I obtained her at 3 days old, and she had been down since she hatched. The most important things in treating this problem are keeping the legs hobbled in a normal position, provide a surface with good traction, and keep the baby upright. Plus all the basics to keeping a baby alive -- heat, food, and water. After I put Sydney's hobbles on I put her down. She didn't have the physical strength to stand, so she toppled over immediately. I got a tall cereal bowl and rolled up a tiny T-shirt into the shape of a doughnut. I put some shavings in the bottom of the bowl, then put the T-shirt doughnut on top of that, then put her in the hole of the doughnut. The top of the doughnut was at the height of her back, so she couldn't jump out. The hole was small enough that she couldn't tip over. She was syringe fed and watered until she was willing to eat on her own. This setup allowed her to build up her leg strength and it also kept her from injuring herself. It took about 2 days before she was able to stand outside the bowl, and 3 days before she was able to walk without falling over. Then suddenly she grew out of her hobbles. I was going to change them, but as soon as I took them off and set her down for a second she started running around pretty well. Instead of re-hobbling her, I just put her in a small area to prevent her from overexercising too soon. Within the week she seem 100% normal, and had no orthopedic problems until she was 6 years old, when she became arthritic from extreme old age. Pretty good for a bird who's life expectancy is less than 18 months. Sydney was a broiler chicken, and lived for 6.5 years as a free-range, treasured pet.
 
Sydney Acres said:
My favorite pet ever, Sydney, started out with splay legs, the worst I've ever seen. I obtained her at 3 days old, and she had been down since she hatched. The most important things in treating this problem are keeping the legs hobbled in a normal position, provide a surface with good traction, and keep the baby upright. Plus all the basics to keeping a baby alive -- heat, food, and water. After I put Sydney's hobbles on I put her down. She didn't have the physical strength to stand, so she toppled over immediately. I got a tall cereal bowl and rolled up a tiny T-shirt into the shape of a doughnut. I put some shavings in the bottom of the bowl, then put the T-shirt doughnut on top of that, then put her in the hole of the doughnut. The top of the doughnut was at the height of her back, so she couldn't jump out. The hole was small enough that she couldn't tip over. She was syringe fed and watered until she was willing to eat on her own. This setup allowed her to build up her leg strength and it also kept her from injuring herself. It took about 2 days before she was able to stand outside the bowl, and 3 days before she was able to walk without falling over. Then suddenly she grew out of her hobbles. I was going to change them, but as soon as I took them off and set her down for a second she started running around pretty well. Instead of re-hobbling her, I just put her in a small area to prevent her from overexercising too soon. Within the week she seem 100% normal, and had no orthopedic problems until she was 6 years old, when she became arthritic from extreme old age. Pretty good for a bird who's life expectancy is less than 18 months. Sydney was a broiler chicken, and lived for 6.5 years as a free-range, treasured pet.
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I have him hobbled, but he can't sit up at all. I was thinking he wouldn't make it because he wouldn't eat or drink. I tried feeding him off a spoon and that worked better. I tried putting him in a container in the brooder. It was low enough to fit under the Sweeter Heater, but not tall enough. There's 11 chicks and 7 other poults in the brooder. As soon as I sat it down, he started screaming and 2 poults jumped in with him. I have another heater in the barn with the 5 week olds that I could bring up, but he screams when he's alone. The other poults will go over and cuddle up with him. Of course, the chicks run over him. I'll try to fix something up tomorrow. Thank you, this was helpful.
 
gevshiba said:
Quote:
It can be more difficult when the other babies get involved. Sydney was my first chick, so no others were around. Can you set up a separate brooder with only him and 1-2 other poults? Or can you set him up in the same brooder as the others, but have his section separated by either wire or netting or plexiglass -- something where he could see the others, but they can't get to him? That way he won't think he's along, but the other little ones won't interfere with his recovery.

Sydney wasn't able to get up on her own for the first 2 days either, so he may still be fine. If you can keep him eating and drinking, and there's nothing else going on, you've got a good chance to get him through this.
Click to expand...
 
uphilljill said:
Great pic! Might be too late for the contest, but not too late to vote!
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Thanks:D

I was wondering how many on here raise poultry for a hobby vs how many it has become their business?? I started it just as a hobby, this year I'm being contacted by people wanting me to ship chicks and poults, one person yesterday wanted me to ship Peachicks. I'm wondering if I really want to get into shipping. I would much rather they be several days old, doing well and picked up here.
 

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