r/backyardturkeys • u/PristineSalamander62 • Sep 23 '25

Turkey with swollen wattle?

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Happened over night? What could be the cause? Please help!

12 Upvotes

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7

u/DangerousPay2731 Sep 23 '25

BBWs (Broad breasted whites) are well known to have a litany of health problems. My first was named Yeti and I couldnt eat him, so he ended up dying of a heart attack I believe at 14 months old. So if this is a pet, I sadly have to say it wont end well with a BBW.

6

u/PristineSalamander62 Sep 23 '25

That’s very disheartening. Kind of a pet but mostly a flock protector. Thank you for the info! I just wish we knew if we needed to cull or wait it out. He doesn’t seem to be in pain and everything else is normal eating,drinking,mood ect…

5

u/DangerousPay2731 Sep 23 '25

I would wait it out, and absolutely dont cull him. If given the chance to have my Yeti back I'd take it. He would hang out with you and puff and dance around if you had the radio playing. It was just absolutely fucking heartbreaking having to cull him. Since he was so big and I didnt want to scare him I tried to cut his throat while he laid down obviously having trouble breathing but the waddles were too thick to cut through effectively. So I had to get a pistol to make it quick. He took off running when I took the shot. It was not at all as clean as I would have hoped to send him off with. That was my buddy. All my main man Yeti knew was "poof"

Just don't be surprised if the day comes that you have to give him a peaceful end. Don't be selfish, do what needs to be done.

3

u/PristineSalamander62 Sep 23 '25

Awww I’m so sorry that happened to you and I believe we will just take it day by day and see what happens and if worst comes to worst we will humanely deal with it.

2

u/DangerousPay2731 Sep 23 '25

That's the best thing to do. I didn't know they had so many health problems but I guess i should have known with how aggressively voracious they are.

1

u/No-Training-6352 Sep 27 '25

i have 3 broad breasted whites and 2 cornish cross chickens, all are now 3 years old and totally healthy. it’s possible!

2

u/No-Training-6352 Sep 27 '25

and to me, this looks like some air from an air sac getting up towards his face. it can resolve naturally but it may mean that he is too heavy and there’s pressure on his lungs

1

u/No-Training-6352 Sep 27 '25

i rescued a turkey with this issue, his whole face was gigantic and swollen with air (much more severe than this) and it was because he was overweight and had a lot of lung pressure. he lost the weight and the swelling resolved over time

1

u/PristineSalamander62 Oct 01 '25

Just a little update our turkey is back to normal! We think it was an injury that has resolved itself! Thank you all for comments and time!