The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: Elissian on December 11, 2011, 12:11:55 pm
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Help! 2 of my turkeys have started sneezing and have swellings under their eyes. I would normally kill them on thursday, hang for a week and then dress them ready to go to customers onChristmas eve.
obviously they cannot have antibiotics so close to slaughter. if i keep them alive till thursday will the illness make them taste bad ? if i kill them now will they keep in the fridge for a week having hung for a week in the barn. They're eating and drinking and grazing as normal though one seems a little sluggish. i've given them a multi vitamin booster drink and garlic granules in thier feed.
any advice please, thanks, Helen
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I've done all of mine this weekend to let hang for 10-12 days. I don't know what affect the sneezing may have but if you're going to risk it, kill them now and let 'em hang.
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one of ours looked a bit poorly, lying down alot - so we killed her and i did wonder if she was ok to eat but we did eat her and no ill effects. id do her now.
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Sounds like they've cotracted Mycoplasma gallisepticum or infective sinusitus. You'll need to isolate any infested birds as it's easily passed to the others.
They'll be okay to eat but don't leave too long as it can kill them if left untreated.
HTH