| Author |
Barnyard Buddies:  Turkey help  |
|
|
quiltin mama
True Blue Farmgirl
436 Posts
Heather
Crescent City
CA
USA
436 Posts |
 Posted - Jun 16 2010 : 6:13:00 PM
|
We got 2 bronze turkeys a couple months ago and one of them is thriving and the other is only doing so-so.
She is eating well and socializing well but when she walks she limps and she doesn't scratch the ground like the other turkey and our hens.
What could be wrong with her? As far as I know, she hasn't been traumatized in anyway (physically) our birds are kept very safe in their coop and run.
Any ideas? Has anyone who raised turkeys had a problem like this before?
my blog www.mountainhomequilts.blogspot.com
handmade quilts on etsy www.mountainhomequilts.etsy.com |
|
|
1badmamawolf
True Blue Farmgirl
2199 Posts
Teresa
"Bent Fence Farms"
Ca
USA
2199 Posts |
Posted - Jun 16 2010 : 7:01:48 PM
|
is she a broad breasted bronze, if so, they commanly have leg/joint problems from rapid growth, and the weight they carry. She will probally only get worse, and may need to be butchered early, sorry.
"Treat the earth well, it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children" |
 |
|
|
kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Jun 17 2010 : 05:44:47 AM
|
Heather, I hope you can figure out what's wrong. I hate when they are sick or hurt. I am raising Bourbon Reds. They are just a little over a week old. I am so afraid I'll kill them all. I already killed one from forgetting to keep the heat light on them. Poor thing. Anyway, I am keeping it on now.
Will you please let me know what you find out about yours? I need all the help I can get.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
|
|
|
magnoliakathy
True Blue Farmgirl
453 Posts
Kathryn
Magnolia
Texas
USA
453 Posts |
Posted - Jun 17 2010 : 12:29:25 PM
|
Check the bottom of her feet for bumblefoot. If she has it, looks like an open sore, clean it well with an antibacterial soap, put something one it (I get Granulex at the feed store, it comes in a spray can) put her in a pen with lots of hay on the ground, to cushion her when she walks and keep dirt out of it until it heals. One of our peacocks gets bumblefoot every few years, and this is what I do for him.
When you free your mind your heart can fly. Farmgirl # 714, |
|
|
|
quiltin mama
True Blue Farmgirl
436 Posts
Heather
Crescent City
CA
USA
436 Posts |
Posted - Jun 17 2010 : 2:13:34 PM
|
Kathryn,
Thanks, I'll look for that!
I figured that something had to be more wrong since our other turkey is doing great and she is the same breed. But if I do need to butcher her early it will be o.k.
my blog www.mountainhomequilts.blogspot.com
handmade quilts on etsy www.mountainhomequilts.etsy.com |
|
|
|
msdoolittle
True Blue Farmgirl
1152 Posts
Amanda
East Texas
USA
1152 Posts |
Posted - Jun 18 2010 : 06:00:15 AM
|
Hi Heather,
If they are the Broad breasted, unfortunately, the problem won't ever go away. As Teresa said, it is due to the massive amount of breast tissue they carry, and the legs just can't support that weight. Ever heard of Cornish cross hens? Those are the type that are in grocery stores. Same thing. The breast tissue is so huge, they literally lay around and EAT. I had 2 BB turkeys for a year. I loved them so much! Tom began limping at about 8 months and it waxed and waned, but never went away. Hen prolapsed at a year and so I butchered them both. I do have to say they were DELICIOUS. I did cry a little when we butchered Ol' Tom, I admit to you. He was like a dog and followed us everywhere. All of us could pet Hen.
Anyway, after all of that, I decided never to get BBs again unless strictly for butchering. It is hard to see them suffer. I did tell the story on my blog. We butchered them in March, I believe, so the story should be right around there.
FarmGirl #1390
www.mylittlecountry.wordpress.com |
|
|
|
sherrye
True Blue Farmgirl
3775 Posts
sherry
bend in the high desert
oregon
USA
3775 Posts |
Posted - Jun 18 2010 : 07:04:58 AM
|
some of my chickens had bumble foot. part of their pen is rock. the rock makes the foot dore. infection get s and makes a round bump on foot. hope your turk gets better happy days sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farmgirl #1014
|
|
|
|
knead2garden
True Blue Farmgirl
359 Posts
Ashley
Spring City
TN
USA
359 Posts |
Posted - Jun 18 2010 : 08:48:04 AM
|
I hope that you found out what was wrong. Let us know, I'd like to know the end result.
~Ashley
#1677
"In the end we will conserve only what we love; we will love only what we understand; and we will understand only what we have been taught." -Baba Dioum |
|
|
|
quiltin mama
True Blue Farmgirl
436 Posts
Heather
Crescent City
CA
USA
436 Posts |
Posted - Jun 18 2010 : 11:56:15 AM
|
Well, I checked her foot and I can't find any kind of sore or cut or anything. It just looks normal. So I guess the growth is to blame for her limp. I was dissapointed because I bought them (instead of the white ones- don't know what they're called) so that they wouldn't grow so big and heavy.
We bought them soley to butcher them so I'm not attached but I don't like to see any animal not living it's life to the fullest! I'm hoping that she'll make it to October when we had planned on butchering them.
Next year I guess I'll go with a hertiage breed. Anyone have any suggestions?
my blog www.mountainhomequilts.blogspot.com
handmade quilts on etsy www.mountainhomequilts.etsy.com |
|
|
| |
Barnyard Buddies: Turkey help |
|
Turkey help
