Young turkey butts

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My turkeys, who are about two weeks old, have developed a strange ailment. I have lost two already, over the course of a day or two. The suddenly got pasty rears,and distended colons, like they had been straining to poop. I seemed very painful and sore, but for the first day they stayed active. Two others have the swollen rear today. They are eating normal 16% starter food, which I have used on turkeys before, and my daughter throws grass and alphalpha in for them to play with. Most puzzling, they are in the same pen, with the same bedding, since day one. I see no evidence of eating the bedding. Any thoughts on this?

-- Rachel (rldk@hotmail.com), May 14, 2000

Answers

(IT seemed painful, not I). (well, some people find me painful) I am bumping this up because I have lost another turkey. ???help??

-- Rachel (rldk@hotmail.com), May 14, 2000.

I hope someone comes to your rescue!!! I'm not sure if I can help or not. I've never done turkeys but I have done chickens. Do they have hard crusty rears?? That alone will force them to push harder than they need to. Take a warm paper towel and clean that all off. FUN! My girlfriend always gives her chicks a whole onion cut up in their water,brewers yeast and garlic. That boosts their immune system and the brewers yeast has vitamin B in it to help with the stress. Hope this helps!! Washing their bottoms may be the best idea!

-- Pat (pmikul@pcpros.net), May 14, 2000.

Are you using medicated turkey starter? If not, I recommend it. But mostly I recommend you contact your county extension service first thing in the morning. These guys have helped me immeasurably in times when I was baffled. They are EXPERTS! Look under your state university in the phone book. Even if there is no university branch anywhere near you, there will be a county agent! GL!

-- Brad (homefixer@mix-net.net), May 14, 2000.

If this is what I think it is, it is called pasting. If the rear cakes over to the point that it blocks them from being able to poop, they will die, so the important thing is to keep their butts clean. Soak the caking off with warm water. A touch of vegetable oil on their rear ends will help keep them from getting caked back up.

-- Connie (Connie@lunehaven.com), May 15, 2000.

This is not from regular pasting. They do get messy with watery poop, and then at the end, blood. It is as if the lower part of their digestive tract is being turned inside out. The last one I put out of it's misery (turkey 4 to die) had about 1/2" of colon inverted. Poor things. Yes, Brad, it's medicated starter.

The rest look alright. Maybe a parasite? They are young, and might succumb to a worm or something. It is so strange. I wasn't sure I would be able to kill that sweet little chick, but it was suffering so.

-- Rachel (rldk@hotmail.com), May 15, 2000.



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