Poult with damaged leg/hip, Help please?!?

[Sylver Queen]

Hello! This is my first time posting on the turkey forum because I'm a first-time turkey owner. I'm experienced with helping chickens heal a variety of ailments and my neighbor knows this, so when he had a 3-day-old turkey poult who was in extremely rough shape and hadn't eaten or drunk in 3 days he asked me for help.

He is now 6 weeks old and we have healed up everything except this leg. After a week in a hobble, Rambo walked 3 days on his own then I came home one day to one leg caddywampus again. Possibly a valgus deformation from what I've researched, but I actually took him to a vet because I love this little guy and she splinted it and unfortunately it was too tight or something and turned a bit purple so I had to take it off. I think dragging around the splint while it did straighten out the leg may have damaged his pelvis. Leg is worse than ever and he's in good spirits just trying to be a turkey baby, but if there's any way I can splint or provide this little one with support I would love to hear from you all! I had him in a basket sling but he busted out, need better vet wrap around the ankles. ;-)

I understand if it's a lost cause, but the vet mentioned hydrotherapy and I would prefer he had a pelvis splint because I think the problem is at the hip from the beginning. This is a pet, and there's nothing else stopping him from living at the moment except the inability to walk properly. Thank you for any advice!

 

[Pearlescent]

I don’t have much knowledge about splinting, or leg damage, but if he seems normal except for the leg there should be hope. Is there a different vet you could take him too? The one thing is that if he’s all alone just with humans and never sees other turkeys, he may get a bit over-imprinted. Which wouldn’t be too bad if it’s a hen, but could cause problems if it’s a Tom, Personally I wouldn’t worry about that, but I know most people care a lot about that stuff. I myself prefer imprinted hens to none imprinted ones.

Good luck with him! He’s a beautiful little bird and must have a strong will to live.

 

[Sylver Queen]

I don’t have much knowledge about splinting, or leg damage, but if he seems normal except for the leg there should be hope. Is there a different vet you could take him too? The one thing is that if he’s all alone just with humans and never sees other turkeys, he may get a bit over-imprinted. Which wouldn’t be too bad if it’s a hen, but could cause problems if it’s a Tom, Personally I wouldn’t worry about that, but I know most people care a lot about that stuff. I myself prefer imprinted hens to none imprinted ones.

Good luck with him! He’s a beautiful little bird and must have a strong will to live.

Thank you so much for your reply, Pearlescent! He has an amazing will to live, and why I'm so attached and want to do my best by him! He's been through a lot and keeps chugging, just need that one leg straightened out and if I can take him to another vet I will. Not many vets treat birds in our area but this vet seemed new and unfamiliar with leg deformities in turkeys. I've got a chicken in the crate next to him and he plays with his favorite cat as well, so I'm hopeful he will be well-rounded. I also suspect behavior won't be a danger because that leg will probably be somewhat hindered for life, but I'm hoping he can survive this to adulthood and move around well enough to be outside in my chicken yard. One day at a time with this one.

Meanwhile, his splint turned his foot purple and I had to take it off, so it's a good thing I took him with me on a road trip that day to observe him when I had to take my cat to a vet 150 miles away! Full commitment. Wish I could upload the video I took of him sharing the greens from my lunch that day.