turkey's head is turning purple

[Sandrachx]

last night i noticed that one my turkeys' head had a purple cast to it. it wasn't red like the others. i also noticed that she was "gasping" with her inhaled breaths. she is a white broad-breasted turkey, about 3 months old. this morning she is moving very slow, staying kind of separate from the flock.

any idea what i am seeing?

 

[Celie]

Broad Breasted turkeys are Hybrids and will eat themselves to death if left to their own. It sounds like it might be her heart. The breasts on these turkeys, as well as the rest of their bodies, grow tremendously fast. Too fast for their hearts and legs to keep up with. They are much more suseptable to heart trouble and lameness than Heritage breeds. I am not a medical expert, but I would try to keep her as quiet and calm as possible and maybe rub her back where her lungs are to help her breath easier. Anyone also out there, maybe you can advise better than me? I lost quite a few BBW before I decided to stay with the Holland White breed.