Turkey leg problems. Not broken. So confused

[cupman]

I have two turkeys that are five weeks old. They are broad-breasted but I've been feeding them flock raiser. They aren't too overweight or anything. Well, about three days ago I noticed one of my turkeys had a hard time walking. He could go to food, water and bring himself to his brooder at night but other than that he just sits there and poops on himself. Now, as of yesterday, my other turkey is having the same problem.. though not as severely. I have examined both of them and neither of them have broken legs(though it's clearly a leg problem). They have been in with 14 chicks of the same age and all 14 chicks are healthy and happy.

Does anyone know what this could possibly be? I really want to keep my turkeys and I feel like they are totally savable at this point but I really don't know what's wrong or how to fix it. I have read several threads on broken legs and splints.. but I don't feel they really apply to my situation.

 

[ivan3]

First your poor roo, and now this Hang in there.

Immediate treatment: three drops of Polyvisol Enfamil (no iron) infant vitamins, a day, for a week and then taper off.Add some crushed hard boiled eggs/meal worms to diet. When they first get to waking up in the morning try a eyedropper of sucrose sweetened water - on occasion this motivates 1-2 wk. old poults into getting up and moving.

BB's are prone to every sort of `leg' problem. Here are some links:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/41693/spraddle-leg-splay-leg-treatment-instructions (maybe taping will help if you can get them to stand).
http://www.worldpoultry.net/diseases/tibial-dyschondroplasia-d18.html
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/diseaseinfo/30/chondrodystrophy-slipped-tendon-or-perosis

http://www.farmsanctuary.org/mediacenter/assets/ai_report_vF.pdf (have a certain point of view about artificial insemination but excelllent bib.).

good luck!

 

[cupman]

Thanks, ivan. Been a rough week for me. Lost my year old rooster to a predator, lost two week-old chicks and have two hurt turkeys. One of my fears is that my two turkeys don't make it. I have a third turkey that is a heritage breed royal palm that is about three weeks old. Will it find company with my chickens if my two turkeys don't make it or will it be lonely that it has no more turkeys to be with?

My two hurt turkeys have hobbled themselves over to a quiet corner away from the other birds. They seem to like each other's company. It's kind of sweet, but sad. I guess I want to know if I should look into getting another turkey or two to prepare for the worst.. so my youngest turkey doesn't grow up lonely.

 

[ivan3]

Hope the BB's start using their legs!

The Royal will be O.K. with chooks and, if imprinted on you, will do all right with this `adopted' flock. Yes, they do like to socialize with one another. However, if you are not looking to breed them and are keeping them more as pets - consider two-three of same sex (either all hens/toms). This minimizes the hormonal-less than social-socialization. Toms will spar for alpha position but, without the hens, this won't devolve into sometimes bloody, snood pulling, neck wrapping kick fests. Hens will still lay and be pretty scarce during the early summer (nesting) and are more prone to wander off looking for a predator filled niche to hunker down in.

Again, hope things get better!

 

[GobbleGobbleBaw]

I hope your turkeys get better. I had leg problems with some of mine when they were first hatched, but I've gotten some wonderful advice from here and was able to save them. I hope you'll be just as lucky!
I have a turkey that is in love with one of my hens and he could care less about socializing with the other turkeys. So I'm pretty sure that your other one will be just fine socializing with the chickens you have
Good luck, I'll keep my fingers crossed for you!

 

[A.T. Hagan]

I'd recommend finding them some proper game bird starter to begin with. Purina does not recommend Flock Raiser for turkeys before eight weeks of age.

http://poultry.purinamills.com/OURPRODUCTS/Products/FlockRaiser/default.aspx

If you can't find gamebird starter then start supplementing their feed with chopped boiled egg and chopped dark green leafies.

You can feed the chicks on the turkey starter. They'll be OK on it until they are about twelve weeks old then move them all back to Flock Raiser.

 

[cupman]

just a happy update:

Both of my turkeys turned for the worse... they would sit in the same place all day long and not really get up to get food and water. Well the weather turned sunny the past few days and I think it gave them new life. They walk to get food and water and wander around to forage. They still sit more than all of my chickens but they are mobile. They do walk like old men with arthritis so they aren't all the way out of the woods. I'm hoping they keep improving and it looks promising.

 

[jrfixit]

I have the same problem. Got 2 chicks and both have leg problems. Didnt have this in the bronze birds just the white one.

 

[junkprospector]

my BBB had something going on with his legs - but i wonder if it may have just been 'normal' for a BBB. at around 3 weeks of age - he walked around like he was drunk all the time - he's tip over, have troubles standing, walking, etc. He's 9 weeks old now and fine as can be - but i think maybe the troubles he had were more having to do with (1) the incredibly fast growing rate (2) and the width between his legs (because he's a BBB). At this time they are growing so fast - it may be hard for their neurological system to keep up with the body growth. Their legs are already pretty stout and their feet age enormous for the age - i think all these factors make walking for the poults at this age very difficult. It seems like maybe after 4.5 weeks of age, he made it through this tough transition period and started walking about a bit more.

 

[turkeylady3]

I've got 3 BBB 2 females 1 male have even writing question about them here because the male is very Aggressive especially with me but others too. But the last couple days he's been limping he's really big. So far it has not chances his behavior he stil puffs out eats and walks a lot in his pen. Not sure what's going on. But there is no way any of us can get close to him to check him without fear of bodily harm. Don't know what to do. They r my pets