How to Raise Turkeys with Foot Problems

Raising healthy and happy poultry is a challenging task, especially as the size of the flock increases. Making sure that each individual bird is properly fed and cared for can be time consuming, increasingly so when the health of the animals begins to fail. The best treatment for any disease or condition is simply prevention. As larger birds, turkeys are prone to foot and leg problems. Learning prevention and treatment methods for your birds is the best way to grow a healthy flock.

Things You'll Need

  • Turkey feed
  • Litter
  • Cage
  • Food and water dishes
  • Iodine
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Instructions

    • 1

      Feed your turkeys a healthy, nutritious and vitamin-rich diet. Birds lacking certain minerals and vitamins such as D3 can encounter problems, especially during chick development and even in fully matured birds. Research your feed to find what brand is best for the turkeys so as to avoid soft bones and eventual lameness. Protein is of utmost importance for the turkeys' health. Commercial feeds usually contain plant and animal proteins. Soybeans are also very high in protein and easy to incorporate into the turkeys' diet as a snack or treat.

    • 2

      Provide turkeys with litter that allows for proper footing and traction. Soft and absorbent materials such as paper or cloth towels are best for young chicks while pine shavings (not sawdust) are best for older birds. Stable footing will help birds avoid spraddled legs and continuous slipping.

    • 3

      Spread out feeding and water dishes. When these items become too crowded, the added stress can further harm a bird's legs and feet. This practice also maintains the cleanliness and order of an animal's cage. Also ensure that mesh wire flooring is small so that small turkeys do not get their feet caught, and the bird's weight is evenly spread throughout the feet.

    • 4

      Treat turkeys with foot lesions immediately. Move birds to a sanitary cage to avoid high exposure to bacteria and frequently apply iodine to avoid infection. If severe infection occurs, it may spread and cause an overall failure of health for the bird, forcing the animal to be euthanized. Providing a sanitary habitat, nutritious diet and needed treatment to your birds will produce overall health and keep your flock growing.