***UPDATE*** URGENT!!! Turkey Fine one day...Down the next

[Chicos Mama]

I really need help A.S.A.P.!!!
I have two "Broad Breasted Bronze" Hens, and these ladies are my first Turkeys. Both are 7 months old. Both were fine yesterday and by evening, one of them cannot walk. The other one started attacking her so I seperated them but this Morning she still cannot walk. She began breathing through her mouth late this afternoon. She is drinking and eating like a pig still...but I have to bring everything to her on the hour because she cannot even get up! Her poops look just fine as normal.
I put Salumet & Vito-sol in her water and gave her a dose of Safe-Guard goat wormer (neither have ever been wormed)
Its breaking my heart as I dont know what I can do to help her.
. No Toms...just the two hens. They are free range with my chickens as well. but shes the only one showing these symptoms.
PLEASE TELL ME WHATS WRONG WITH MY GIRL!!!

 

[ColbyNTX]

They are not really ment to be pets. The BBB should be slaughtered about 4-6 months. Most of them grow too fast to live a healthy life beyond this. Now that you have pumpped her full of meds, you will have to wait to get the meds out of her system before you eate her. Dosen't sound like she is sick, just broke a leg or dislocated her hip. Hertage breeds are pets.

 

[jasonm11]

Quote:
X2 I think Colby is right, and with the meds she is no good for meat for at leat 2 to 3 weeks.

 

[Chicos Mama]

Lesson learned from a newbie to Turkeys....BUT in the mean time...What should I do with her? I never intended to eat her, she was just that A Pet. She dosent seem to be in any pain and isnt suffering in that way. I am trying to make her as comfortable as possible, and shes still acting her normal friendly self...eating as much as usual and drinking fine. I dont think I can cull her myself, much less wait 2-3 more weeks of her doing this. I sure am lost as what to do here...any suggestions?

I want to be as humane as possible to her, simply because she is A PET.
Also...should I expect the same thing to happen to her "sister" Turkey? Will a diet help keep their weight down? ( They both weigh around 30-35 lbs. each now)
Thank you for any help!

 

[Chicos Mama]

***UPDATE***

Now the other Hen is wobbling around like she is drunk! BOTH are "weezing" & sound congested...but no discharge from eyes, nose or mouth. BOTH are eating but slowed down on their drinking. Could this be something else other than what was previously thought?
An inner ear thing perhaps?
A Respritory thing?
A "Fat Chick" thing?...just thought I`d throw that out there

I will sit here waiting on ANY thoughts and suggestions...please wont somebody help! Any Meds. to suggest?

As I said, these ladys are my pets (bad choice, I know that now) and I will do whatever it takes to help them!

 

[SkyWarrior]

Hmmm, might be a respiratory thing. Turkeys do get respiratory infections. How warm is it where you are? The temperature could explain the panting.

My BBWs tended to break legs and waddle around in bizarre ways. As friendly as the BB birds are, they're really not good for very long. I just butchered my last tom and he probably weighed 45 lbs before dressing out.

 

[ColbyNTX]

the birds can be restricted on food and it does help but it sounds like they are past that point. If they are going to die, wouldn't you rather eat them than just throw them out? I bet you could find somebody to do the butchering for you. There is a lot of good info in the meat section on dressing a bird. As for the one you medicated, check the meat withdraw times on the lables. I know you don't want to eat a "pet" but why let them go to waste? Not saying 100% there is not something else going on but that is pretty typical for a BB around that age. It is a meat bird. Get you some heritage birds this spring if you want an easy pet.

 

[Chicos Mama]

TURKEY TURN-AROUND ALERT!!!

Thank you all for your input and suggestions... I DID THEM ALL!!!
And as of this morning, The hen that was completly down...is now up! Walking however still weak, but none the less WALKING!

She couldnt even stand for 3 days.
Her "sister" who also started showing symptoms of "drunkeness" & weakness, is also walking normal and stopped panting.
Both are eating and drinking as usual.

O.K. heres what I did...

1) Wormed with Goat-Guard (both)

2) Added Sulment to water

3) Added Vita-Sol AND Collodial Siver to secondary water

4) Pumped them both FULL of Cayenne Pepper...on everything they ate as well as 1/8 tsp. straight down their gullets!

5) Hugged em and squeezed them GOBS!

I did everything I could think of cuz I figured they were gonners anyways...so why not?

No broken or dis-located legs, URI?, Black-Head?, Poisoning? Who knows...and Who knows which "cure" did the trick?
All I know is I am very happy one or a combination of them seem to be working!

I took everyones advice and I will be looking for "Pet" Turkeys this spring as well!

Thank you Thank you Thank You all again!