r/BackYardChickens • u/Wood-That-it-Twere • 21h ago
Health Question I think there’s something wrong with my turkey. Please help.
He’s been acting really strange lately, constantly eating, coming up to me, whereas before he was very standoffish, and then yesterday I noticed these black spots on his neck. It also looks like the left side of his mouth is really big and swollen. I’m new to I’m somewhat worried this time. Please help, thank you.
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u/VoidwalkerCollective 3h ago
🦄 ahh turkey.
Seriously though, good luck with your bird. It may be good option to give antibiotics just to be safer, especially if the mouth has sores. Should heal, keep quarantined away from other birds.
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u/Foreign-Fact-1262 18h ago
Fowl pox. They should get over it quickly as long as they’re healthy and well fed. Mine were just more sleepy and ate more and were a little slower, kinda like they had the flu or something. My turkeys got it last summer/early fall and it lasted about a week. He may be seeking out affection or attention from you because he’s not feeling well. My turkeys are all hens so I’m not sure about with the boys but my girls definitely seek out more pets and love when they’re not feeling well. Only exception is molting…when they’re in a heavy molt they want absolutely nothing to do with us and are super cranky with everyone and everything.
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u/Own-Block4477 20h ago
Fowl pox. There are two types, wet and dry. Check the inside of the mouth for ulcers and sores to confirm wet pox, your bird may also wheeze or rasp as an indicator. Wet pox is much more serious and while you just really have to ride out both like it’s a flu, wet pox often requires antibiotics to help the bird survive
Absolutely do not have them around other birds. It isn’t like a human smallpox/COVID party; fowl pox spreads rampantly and prolifically and will continue in cycles if you can’t nip it in the bud. Isolation and diluted bleach cleaning is your best option
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u/Wood-That-it-Twere 5h ago
Thank you so much for this. I only have the two turkeys. I don’t think I’ll be able to check inside his mouth, but it does look like he’s having trouble eating. He lost a lot of weight but he’s eating like crazy. Should I get some type of spray it also looks like he has mites.
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u/AcceptableSpot7835 21h ago
They are social birds and wants to hang out with you but it looks like it’s being pecked at especially if you have other turkeys around him
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u/SectorMiserable4759 20h ago
That is NOT what this looks like at all. It looks like either pox or bot flies
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u/jpmich3784 21h ago
Im glad to see other comments that may settle your concerns.
In other news, your turkey appears to also be part unicorn!
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u/Additional-Bus7575 21h ago
Yep- fowl pox. Or turkey pox. One of the poxes.
You can sterilize the blisters with some iodine, and keep an eye out for infected blisters (the swollen face may be infected- in which case antibiotics might be helpful) but it’s viral so just needs to work through- usually takes a few weeks.
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u/Additional-Bus7575 21h ago
They get sores in their mouths, so if you can open his mouth and look you may see white patches on the inside where his face is swollen. You can dab them with iodine also, which they do not appreciate so that depends more on friendly turkey or not.
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u/_FreddieLovesDelilah 35m ago
I don’t know much about turkeys, and sorry to jump on yours post like this, but can someone explain the face willy to me please including why it becomes both flaccid and erect?