Turkey with bad leg...need advice

[Brandon E]

I've had ducks and chickens, never had turkeys. Wive brought home 4 poults assuming that since I am on the redneck side that I should automatically know this stuff. One of the poor guys had what looked like a broken or dislocated leg. I've seen that kind of thing happen with chickens and ducks when they get sent through the mail. As long as you keep them from getting trampled when they are little they seem to adapt. Not Turkeys it seems. I brought him/her inside so he wouldn't get trampled, then brought the mildest of his siblings in so it wouldn't be lonely. Started looking better for a few days, the last couple has gotten worse. The good leg is starting to twist and mangle. I've seen folks on the thread mention a couple of different problems as well as some solutions. Would someone be kind enough to explain things barney style to me? Would really like to avoid putting him down, totally fine with him being an office turkey or something like that as long as the quality of life is ok. They are eating Chicken feed/ scratch grains...purina I think, one of the name brands from tractor supply

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Poults need to be fed a gamebird starter initially. They can get perosis or slipped tendon from vitamin deficiencies. Once the twisting starts you generally can't fix it, just hopefully stop it from getting worse.

 

[Brandon E]

Poults need to be fed a gamebird starter initially. They can get perosis or slipped tendon from vitamin deficiencies. Once the twisting starts you generally can't fix it, just hopefully stop it from getting worse.

OK I will pick some up today. I've been using a regular chic starter. I have a vet who is a bird specialist, do you think they'd be able to help?

 

[Isadora]

That does look like slipped tendon to me. I had some success with hobbling a few of my poults last year, but I'm concerned that with how far the twist is your poult is already too far to fix.

 

[Kiki]

I've had ducks and chickens, never had turkeys. Wive brought home 4 poults assuming that since I am on the redneck side that I should automatically know this stuff. One of the poor guys had what looked like a broken or dislocated leg. I've seen that kind of thing happen with chickens and ducks when they get sent through the mail. As long as you keep them from getting trampled when they are little they seem to adapt. Not Turkeys it seems. I brought him/her inside so he wouldn't get trampled, then brought the mildest of his siblings in so it wouldn't be lonely. Started looking better for a few days, the last couple has gotten worse. The good leg is starting to twist and mangle. I've seen folks on the thread mention a couple of different problems as well as some solutions. Would someone be kind enough to explain things barney style to me? Would really like to avoid putting him down, totally fine with him being an office turkey or something like that as long as the quality of life is ok. They are eating Chicken feed/ scratch grains...purina I think, one of the name brands from tractor supply

Are they walking on paper? Paper can be slippery which can cause leg issues.
Can you put a few inches of dirt under them?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

OK I will pick some up today. I've been using a regular chic starter. I have a vet who is a bird specialist, do you think they'd be able to help?

You could ask if they think they can do anything. I've seen Dr. Pol on tv tape them up. Not sure of the outcome always.

 

[R2elk]

I've had ducks and chickens, never had turkeys. Wive brought home 4 poults assuming that since I am on the redneck side that I should automatically know this stuff. One of the poor guys had what looked like a broken or dislocated leg. I've seen that kind of thing happen with chickens and ducks when they get sent through the mail. As long as you keep them from getting trampled when they are little they seem to adapt. Not Turkeys it seems. I brought him/her inside so he wouldn't get trampled, then brought the mildest of his siblings in so it wouldn't be lonely. Started looking better for a few days, the last couple has gotten worse. The good leg is starting to twist and mangle. I've seen folks on the thread mention a couple of different problems as well as some solutions. Would someone be kind enough to explain things barney style to me? Would really like to avoid putting him down, totally fine with him being an office turkey or something like that as long as the quality of life is ok. They are eating Chicken feed/ scratch grains...purina I think, one of the name brands from tractor supply

If it is perosis aka slipped tendon, the tendon has to be manipulated back into place and then secured there. If it has been let go for too long, it cannot be fixed

You have to fully extend the leg to be able to pop the tendon back into its groove.

Broad breasted turkeys in particular are very susceptible to perosis. Feeding them chick starter compounds the problem because it does not have the protein, lysine, methionine or niacin levels that are required for their high metabolism and growth rates.

Tou can sometimes help them by mixing vitamin B complex at the rate of 1/2 tablet dissolved in one gallon of water. Make it their only source of water. It should be made fresh daily.

Hobbles can help with splay leg. They will not fix a skipped tendon.

If a vet is an option, I have heard of them using stitches or fabricating a brace to keep the tendon in place.

Good luck.

 

[Gbcmd]

I've had ducks and chickens, never had turkeys. Wive brought home 4 poults assuming that since I am on the redneck side that I should automatically know this stuff. One of the poor guys had what looked like a broken or dislocated leg. I've seen that kind of thing happen with chickens and ducks when they get sent through the mail. As long as you keep them from getting trampled when they are little they seem to adapt. Not Turkeys it seems. I brought him/her inside so he wouldn't get trampled, then brought the mildest of his siblings in so it wouldn't be lonely. Started looking better for a few days, the last couple has gotten worse. The good leg is starting to twist and mangle. I've seen folks on the thread mention a couple of different problems as well as some solutions. Would someone be kind enough to explain things barney style to me? Would really like to avoid putting him down, totally fine with him being an office turkey or something like that as long as the quality of life is ok. They are eating Chicken feed/ scratch grains...purina I think, one of the name brands from tractor supply