Hello everyone!
I recently acquired a trio of Narragansett turkeys. I've had them for about 2-3 months, and they are about a year old. Currently they are in a 12x6 covered pen. I try to keep it really clean, but the nest box got a little gross while one of the mamas was trying to hatch some eggs.
A couple days ago i noticed by tom was not gobbling and strutting his stuff anymore, and trying to sleep in the nest box with a girl whose sitting on eggs. When he comes out of the pen, he is walking very slow, and looking generally tired and lethargic. Still moving around and walking, and also still very alert, but just seems really weird. His poop this morning was really dark blackish green, so a little strange there. His lungs/nose seem clear, eyes are bright, and no sign of bumblefoot or any external injury. Crop doesn't seem to be impacted either.
I haven't witnessed him eating, and he seems to have lost some weight, as his keel is more prominent than before. I'm not sure his he's eating and drinking or not.
They do live on the same property as chickens, but they had at their other farm as well. I'm hopeful that this isn't blackhead or anything.
Currently I have been giving him electrolyte water with a dropper, to make sure he is getting liquid in his system.
My initial thought is worms? I've never dealt with a bout of worms with any of my other poultry, but from what I hear, turkeys are more susceptible?
I did gather a fecal sample this morning, but after calling my vet (used to to fecals for my goats there, for about 10bucks) they want to charge me almost 30 bucks for a fecal on the boy. Good lord, that's as much as I bought him for!
With most of my animals I like to know what I'm dealing with before dumping medicine down their throats unnecessarily. But I'm beginning to think I should just worm him (and the girls) and just hope that's it. I could buy quite a bit of wormer or feed or anything else with my 30 dollars lol.
So, my questions are:
1. What wormer would you suggest? Something I can get at TSC would be wonderful. I have a goat dewormer, but I figure i should get something for poultry? Again, never dewormed my poultry (I have done preventative herbs, but if he's showing signs, I want to make sure they are dead).
2. Is there anything else I should be doing for him? Or any other sickness this could be?
3. Should I maybe try to force feed him? I don't want him to starve himself. To force feed would I maybe make a mash with the crumbles and stick it in his mouth?
Any thoughts are much appreciated! I really like my turkey's and I'd rather not loose him
Thanks!
I recently acquired a trio of Narragansett turkeys. I've had them for about 2-3 months, and they are about a year old. Currently they are in a 12x6 covered pen. I try to keep it really clean, but the nest box got a little gross while one of the mamas was trying to hatch some eggs.
A couple days ago i noticed by tom was not gobbling and strutting his stuff anymore, and trying to sleep in the nest box with a girl whose sitting on eggs. When he comes out of the pen, he is walking very slow, and looking generally tired and lethargic. Still moving around and walking, and also still very alert, but just seems really weird. His poop this morning was really dark blackish green, so a little strange there. His lungs/nose seem clear, eyes are bright, and no sign of bumblefoot or any external injury. Crop doesn't seem to be impacted either.
I haven't witnessed him eating, and he seems to have lost some weight, as his keel is more prominent than before. I'm not sure his he's eating and drinking or not.
They do live on the same property as chickens, but they had at their other farm as well. I'm hopeful that this isn't blackhead or anything.
Currently I have been giving him electrolyte water with a dropper, to make sure he is getting liquid in his system.
My initial thought is worms? I've never dealt with a bout of worms with any of my other poultry, but from what I hear, turkeys are more susceptible?
I did gather a fecal sample this morning, but after calling my vet (used to to fecals for my goats there, for about 10bucks) they want to charge me almost 30 bucks for a fecal on the boy. Good lord, that's as much as I bought him for!
With most of my animals I like to know what I'm dealing with before dumping medicine down their throats unnecessarily. But I'm beginning to think I should just worm him (and the girls) and just hope that's it. I could buy quite a bit of wormer or feed or anything else with my 30 dollars lol.
So, my questions are:
1. What wormer would you suggest? Something I can get at TSC would be wonderful. I have a goat dewormer, but I figure i should get something for poultry? Again, never dewormed my poultry (I have done preventative herbs, but if he's showing signs, I want to make sure they are dead).
2. Is there anything else I should be doing for him? Or any other sickness this could be?
3. Should I maybe try to force feed him? I don't want him to starve himself. To force feed would I maybe make a mash with the crumbles and stick it in his mouth?
Any thoughts are much appreciated! I really like my turkey's and I'd rather not loose him
Thanks!
