HELP! My turkey has crookneck. What is this and how to treat?

[kuntrygirl]

I think I found an anatomy pic. Trying to post it.

 

[chickenannie]

Thanks for the specifics. We don't have a Tractor Supply Store anywhere near here (though it seems everybody else on BYC does). In fact, I had never heard of it before going on BYC.
Just got back with my Pedialyte and my PolyViSol. Will dose tom in the morning, providing he doesn't beat me up when I try to get near him. I can't stand to see his neck like that. If for some reason I can't get Tylan 50, is there anything else you would recommend that does the same thing?

Thanks again.

 

[chickenannie]

For anatomy, I'll just think of the turkey on my Thanksgiving table (sorry bout that, but we really are familiar with that type of bird). Yeah, the tom's breast does also seem really squishy to me, but I can do my best. So, I guess the same drug works via injection as well as via ingestion. Sorry my questions are so rambling.

Thanks for the info.

 

[kuntrygirl]

Quote:
Glad that you got the pedialyte and PolyVisol. If you can't get Tylan 50, you may also try Agrimycin, Oxytetracycline, duramycin in the water, Terramycin powder in water, LA 200 or Sulmet. All of these should do the same thing but Tylan 50 is the best! If you run out of options as far as where to get the Tylan, then you may want to look at the other meds. Now, like I said, I'm not a turkey whispherer, turkey expert nor am i a vet. I just read a lot and learn from there. I only heard of Tractor Supply when I joined BYC. They opened up a Tractor Supply in my town about a month ago. I have been shopping there a lot. Let me know if you have any other questions. Keep us posted. I am pulling for your big guy.

 

[chickenannie]

I just tried to give turkey his meds. It is impossible! He won't let me get within 2-3 feet without running off. He panics when I get too close. He's always been pastured (even before I got him) and is not used to be handled AT ALL. I don't know what to do. I enlisted help for tommorrow, but I can't imagine we'll be able to capture and hold him down. I think I'd have to do this at night (catch him); then give him the meds, but I won't have any help at night. Any way this is going to be a horrible struggle. It's like trying to catch a greased pig by yourself. If I catch him at night, and give him meds, is that ok? Is late evening better than early morning for the meds to work and the liquid to stay down?

Does anyone know of a turkey restraint? or method?

 

[kuntrygirl]

Sorry to hear about our ordeal. Sounds like you have your hands full. But look on the bright side, if you can't catch him, then that means that he has plenty of strength to run from you, so he may be ok.

At night may be your only option. He will be less active, so you should have a better chance of catching him. Do you have a long handle net that you can catch him with? I keep a net on hand for catching all "hard to chatch" animals. From all of your posts, it sounds as if you don't have the meds yet. So whenever you get the meds and start him with the meds will be ok. The Pedialyte and Vitamins are supplements for when they are not eating and drinking and it sounds like yours is eating and drinking, so he may be ok without it until you catch him.

Where does he roost or sleep at night? Do you have something that you can throw on him to cover him so he can't see? This will slow him down at least a little. I know that I don't like to keep my birds confined but when you catch him, you may have to confine him for a few days and administer the meds. At least you will be able to catch him if he is in a pen or coop. Not sure if you have an empty place to put him and not sure if you want to catch him and place him in confinement. Your decision. But this would help you tremendously.

I don't know of any other turkey restraints or methods. I have only used my net.

 

[chickenannie]

That's true... he's strong enough to run away from me... even with a crooked neck! I never thought of a net -- I figured that would majorly stress out the bird, but in this case I may need to get a sheet or something that I could use instead. Actually, maybe if I can catch him at night and put him in a large box or coop carrier, then at least he'd be held still a bit. I just don't want to stress him out more than he already is. Thanks for all the support... I don't know what I'd do without it! You just can't find turkey advice anywhere.

 

[kuntrygirl]

With the net, it would take less than 2 minutes to catch him, remove the net and position him in a place where you can administer whatever you need to. He should be ok for at least 2 minutes during the capture time. But if you can get close to him to throw a sheet or something over him, then that may make the both of you feel better.

Keep me posted. If I lived closer to you, I would come over there and help you catch him and I would bring my Tylan 50 bottle and a needle for him. Looking forward to hear what is happening on your end. Keep me posted.

 

[CountryPantry]

Get some Duramycin(or other water soluable antibiotic from the feed store) and put it in his water. That is what I did as you can't get near our tom and he is over 50 pounds of force, don't want to be wrestling him. The Duramycin worked fine on him as he was like yours, he was moving around and eating and following the girls.

 

[kuntrygirl]

Any news?