Margaret Mahaney Talks About TurkeysMahaney, Margaret
Science
Margaret Mahaney Talks About Turkeys
Mahaney, Margaret
Turkeys
I have a great many people write me in regard to weak legs in
turkeys. Of course, this is common rheumatism. The limbs suffer
an impairment or loss of use, are hot, swollen and stiff. The
toes then being drawn out of shape, the fowl persistently sits
down and cannot use the perch. The heart may become involved and
this produces death. I had it in my flock one year,—that is, I
had several birds victims to the disease. They would squat down
all the time. The breast bone grew all over to one side from
sitting so much. They were fat and apparently healthy, except
that they could not seem to stand up any length of time. I bathed
their feet with mustard and water as hot as I thought they could
stand it. I saved most of them, but it seemed to me that they
never could walk as well as the flock that had not been affected.
The cause of this affliction is that the turkeys are allowed out
too early in the morning when the dew is on the grass and allowed
to roam around in damp places. At this time I was raising my
flock on lowland. I have never had any of it in my flock since I
moved to high and dry land. Give five drops of bryonia in a pint
of drinking water to six turkeys. After using the mustard water
be careful to wipe the turkey’s legs dry and then rub well with
camphorated oil the backs of the legs leading into the body. Keep
in a warm and dry place and give sulphur in the feed (about a
half teaspoonful to four turkeys).
[Illustration: TURKEYS THRIVE BEST ON HIGH LAND]
“ROTTEN CROP” SOMETIMES MISTAKEN FOR BLACKHEAD
Another disease very common in turkeys which is called blackhead
and yet has nothing to do with blackhead, is what you would call
“rotten crop” in a common hen. When this takes place the crop
becomes very foul and heavy. The bird will drink water, which
stays in the crop and becomes sour. I have often had to take the
bird up, hold the head down and rub the crop gently so that all
the water would run from the mouth. With the aid of a long neck
milk testing bottle I fill the crop with warm water with a
quarter teaspoonful baking soda in it, and relieve the crop by
massaging the second time. Then I give a tablespoonful of olive
oil. Put the bird away from the rest, with very little feed for a
couple of days. I never have any difficulty in saving a bird
affected with what is commonly called “rotten crop.” If not
relieved, however, it will turn into blackhead and the turkey
will die.
COLD—CATARRH—COUGH—BRONCHITIS
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