Help!!! Turkey has rotting feet!! Pic attached

[Friend of Feathers]

A few weeks ago I noticed that my Bourbon Red hen's feet were swollen and bloody from her pecking at them. I sprayed some Blu Kote on them and suspected they would get better in few days. Since then I have tried everything I can think of and suggestions from several reliable sources. Her feet seem to be getting better slowly, but it may just be my wishful thinking. I've searched and searched on this forum and googled every combination of words that seems relavant. I have found threads on Bumblefoot and Gout, but I just don't think it's either of those things. The only senario that seems to fit is one that I just came up with. I'm wondering if maybe she got into a nest of spiders and got bitten several times while scratching around in it. I am open to all suggestions or advice. BTW I have examined the bottom of her feet thouroughly and have not found anythng resembling a scab or plug to suggest Bumblefoot. The dark coloration on her foot I am attributing to the Blu Kote and/or pine tar which I have applied several time. Both of her feet have the same problem, but I could only get one the pictures to upload. I will attempt it again if I need to. The past week or so she has stayed in the nests almost constantly. I've been giving her food and water twice a day. Yesterday she came out with the others to free range, but all she did was peck at her feet the whole time.

Here is some background information that may help with a diagnosis:
She is allowed to free range under my supervision in the yard and in the woods several times a week.
I feed her a mixture of cracked corn and 16% layer crumbles as well as various table scraps.
She spends most of her time in the coup which consists of an indoor roosting and nesting area with pine shavings on the floor which I change more often than I probably need to; a covered outdoor area and constant access to a large wire covered outdoor pen. The outdoor areas, especially the large run have been pretty wet lately.
She is right about 1 year old and recently lost her mate, my Black Spanish tom.

Any information or advice is greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance!!

 

[Friend of Feathers]

Anybody out there have any advice? I'm so worried that my sweet little girl is gonna lose her feet!!! She has to be the sweetest turkey ever and my husband and I both are extremely attached to her. I called several vets in my area and they won't even look at her. I don't know what else to do. I've decided to kept the affected area uncovered and let her peck all the dead tissue off since it didn't seem to get any better when I kept it wrapped.

 

[sparkles2307]

No idea but I hope someone can help!

 

[Cetawin]

Poor girl...I have no idea. I would think it was an infection or bacteria to be causing that. Do you have a vet you can consult? Maybe a university that you could send the pictures to?

I think I would start her on some pencillin injections just to be cautious until i could find a diagnosis.

 

[Friend of Feathers]

Thanks for the sympathy

I never thought to send the pics to a university. I wonder if Mizzou would be able to help? If I can't find a vet to examiner her, so how would I get injectable antibiotics? I've been giving her Durramycine(sp?) in her water twice a day.

 

[chicmom]

Could a turkey get scaley leg mites? I really don't think it looks like that, but I'm grasping at straws....could this be a habit she's taken to because she misses her mate?

 

[Friend of Feathers]

I wondered if it might be stress related, but didn't think that birds formed attachments. It did seem to start right after my tom turkey died suddenly of some mysterious cause. At first her feet were seeping and swollen. I think I've gotten them dried up, but I can't tell if there's any new tissue where the dead, dry tissue came from. I've seen pictures of scaly leg mites on a few threads and I don't see any resemblance, but I'm no expert. I'm beginning to think it's something uncommon and might not be related to anything specific. I'm still leaning toward spider bites. I'll keep treating her as I have been and hopefully she'll eventually recover. I would like to know how to get my hands on some more powerful antibiotics.

 

[ivan3]

If you could get some really clear shots you might consider sending them to Daniel Shaw DVM (avian path) at the University: http://www.cvm.missouri.edu/vpbio/faculty/dshaw.htm

Don't know how far you are from Columbia, but Dr. Debbie Leach has her undergrad in poultry science and has treated our roo and performed surgery on one of our toms: http://www.myzooanimalhospital.com/

Don't see any swelling that would indicate bacterial infection, yet. You could try spraying with a 1:10 solution of betadine/water to keep the area dry (iodine tends to dry tissue) and cover areas with vet wrap (easier said than done, I know).

Good luck!

 

[Friend of Feathers]

Thank you so much for the links. I'll try to get some better pictures. I can't believe it's so hard to find a veterinarian that will look at a poor turkey's feet.

 

[seminolewind]

I personally would wash those feet with good ole soap and water, dry, and put some antibiotic ointment on them. If needed get some Curlex (stretchy gauze bandage in a roll) or wrap them between the toes and around the ankle, secure with duct tape. If he acts sick, then start antibiotics, but I wouldn't before hand.

If it's mites, the ointment will smother them as well.