sick turkey???

[gwithrow]

I have a bronze turkey who has been doing great....about 12 weeks old, they are all in hoop houses on the pasture and they love the grass....today I noticed this turkey just standing apart....not eating and doing the new grass dance....so I picked it up and the crop was full of liquid....which then all urped out...nasty....I am guessing it has some kind of blockage? if so is there anything I can do? I have separated it away from the others as they seemed to be picking on it....it drinks water...but I have not seen it eat at all....today that is....

I don't think it is sick with an illness...but perhaps a block of some kind.....any ideas of how to help ????

[bee]

If it is a grass/fiber impaction between the exit from the crop to the entrance of the gizzard there may not be much you can do. I would try a dose of mineral oil or even a cooking oil..your choice.

First I would up end the bird and massage the crop to remove anything still in the crop(oil floats on water). Then I would administer the the oil with the bird in the up right position and massage the crop in hopes of getting the oil to the possible impaction.I'd try for at least an ounce of oil; use a sryinge without a needle.

If it is the gizzard that is impacted because there was not enough grit in the gizzard before a wad of fiber was consumed there may not be anything you can do..I know of no way to clear this.

If they don't already have grit available to them, get a pan of grit in with the rest of the turkeys..you may also offer it to the ill bird hoping some may get where it is needed.

[Cyngbaeld]

If it is a broad breasted bronze I'd go ahead and butcher it for the freezer.

If it is a smaller, heritage bronze, mark it for culling so you don't breed a weak bird, then try to salvage it.

Hold it upside down and quickly but firmly stroke the crop to push as much as you can out. Then give the bird some probiotics (yogurt, kefir, raw sour milk, buttermilk, etc) until it seems to be recovering. Then feed chopped raw liver with cayenne pepper to boost the immune system.

It may recover and grow more if the blockage goes thru or you can get it out. Then again, it may not. Hope it does ok for you.