Turkey Silkie problem

Egglive · **Joined:** Fri Dec 14, 2007 10:58 am **Posts:** 267

Well this morning I discovered a good reason not to put turkeys and chickens together. I have a pair of turkeys which fly so well that they are in and out of any of the chicken pens that are not roofed. They particularly like the silkie run.

This morning the Tom tried to mount a silkie hen. I had no idea that he would do this and I feel very bad that I didn't recognise the danger. I have always found species know their own kind. Now I know differently. The poor little girl didn't have a chance.

My husband found the Tom over her with her pinned lying on the ground. He had been grabbing her by the neck and ripped her skin all around her head. Her head was hanging but she was still alive. I took her to an emergency vet in Albany Creek. It was a horrible vet - very new and expensive looking and they weren't particularly friendly to a pair of grubby chookie people coming in with a bird in a beer carton. We sat next to the trendy folk with a beautiful burmese cat and a couple whose dog 'just loves flying'. We tried not to dwell on the chook poo stuck to the bottom of my plastic shoes.

They took the silkie away to assess it and we weren't allowed to go too. Then we had to fill out forms etc and eventually taken to a consult room where we were told she had brain damage. We had her put down. It cost $75.00 which is a lot, but we were glad we didn't have to do it ourselves. A distressed silkie with horrible injuries is not easy to deal with and I was glad she was just going to sleep painlessly. For some reason, slaughering healthy roosters doesn't seem as bad.

The turkeys are being 'processed' as I'm typing. We would have to cage them better, so we decided it's time for them to go to the freezer.

I'm very sad to have lost my little silkie. She had just started laying and was a beautiful little girl. I know it's my own fault, so I've learnt something today. Turkeys and silkies don't mix - the chickens don't have a chance.

oozcorpse · **Joined:** Sun Nov 04, 2007 8:15 am **Posts:** 2715

I am so sad for your loss - please dont blame yrself - how were you to know?? You werent!!
This is a terribly sad lesson you have learnt - but let us all share yr grief to make it less.

Those turkeys will taste absolutely great by the way!! MWAHAHAHA!! [evil laugh]

Hugs to make you feel a bit better!!

Deans' Poultry · **Posted:** Mon Mar 24, 2008 11:56 am

Yer that's really sad mate

I wonder why you werent allowed to go in with the bird at the vet?
Although a little late for this little girl

it might pay to put a wire or shadecloth roof on your runs. Our biggest thread out here are hawks and wedge tails which is the main reason i always put a roof of wire on any new chook shed i build.

Again, really sorry about your loss

Egglive · **Joined:** Fri Dec 14, 2007 10:58 am **Posts:** 267

Yeah - roofing is becoming a priority. We have bought a number of bigger chicken tractors and have put quite a lot of our birds in them. They are very secure. However we still have three bigger runs which hold larger numbers. One of them has been netted, but three are still open. The job has gone to the top of our priority list!

One good thing - I have a dozen of her eggs in the incubator.

The offending turkey and his mate are now chilling in the fridge. A sad end, but we will be appreciating his better qualities in about three days' time.

Henny Penny · **Posted:** Sun Mar 30, 2008 9:19 am

Eggsalive wrote:

The poor little girl didn't have a chance.

It was a horrible vet - very new and expensive looking and they weren't particularly friendly to a pair of grubby chookie people coming in with a bird in a beer carton. We sat next to the trendy folk with a beautiful burmese cat and a couple whose dog 'just loves flying'. We tried not to dwell on the chook poo stuck to the bottom of my plastic shoes.

It cost $75.00 which is a lot, but we were glad we didn't have to do it ourselves. A distressed silkie with horrible injuries is not easy to deal with and I was glad she was just going to sleep painlessly.

I'm very sad to have lost my little silkie

You poor love!! To have lost your little girl the way you did & then endure the vets intimidation is despicable. $75 seems like a gross overcharge. I had a kitten put down, and I dont remember it costing that much. My beautiful companion, a 16hh overweight horse cost 5x that and that was for personal care on three occassions, fuel anc alot of compassion, as well as the green dream.

I am so sorry for your loss and the tragedy, I am hoping to breed my silkies next season, keep in touch Where is Albany creek?

I guess one can only hope that whilst in the sky, the dog has an upset stomach, cause they can't put their heads out the window whhilst in flight teehee, Cie... Cie...Cie... Sorry, that is very naughty thinking. Good luck with the baked dinner

Yours in Chooks
Henny Penny

Egglive · **Joined:** Fri Dec 14, 2007 10:58 am **Posts:** 267

Thanks Henny Penny.

On the weekend we had three beautiful tiny silky chicks hatch out. Two of them were from our white silkie who was put down. The chickies are very, very cute. They were in a batch with about 20 other sussex & leghorns, so after hatch I put the others in the brooder in the shed, but kept the little silkies in the laundry. They are so tiny and gentle I don't think they would compete well with the others.

Henny Penny · **Posted:** Mon Mar 31, 2008 8:41 am

That is good to hear Eggsalive, Your little girls' memory will live on now :-D

, good luck with the babies. :-D

Jeff Trescott · **Posted:** Mon Apr 07, 2008 4:35 pm

Yes at least some good has come out of a bad situation, hope the chicks do well.

Jeff

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