Rescue & Adoptions

Healthcare with Heart Stories

Bout with Illness Fails to Sideline Turkey Superstar

The crush of the paparazzi. The bright flash of a snapping camera. Admirers, pens in hand, vying for an autograph and shouting his name. At Farm Sanctuary's New York Shelter turkey barn, those things are more imagined than real—just don't tell that to Chicky.

Our turkey superstar has been a main attraction at our shelter since his rescue in 2004. Chicky and nine of his siblings joined our sanctuary family as babies, rescued from a factory farm. All had been debeaked, and were bloody, weak and dehydrated when they arrived at our doorstep.

Thankfully for Chicky—and scads of celebrity watchers-he not only survived, but thrived at our shelter. In fact, we are so accustomed to Chicky's powerhouse personality, that when he fell ill late this winter, the change in him was dramatic and obvious. Chicky refused to eat. He wouldn't drink. His neck and snood-normally a brilliant magenta-were drained of color. And, most incriminating of all, Chicky became indifferent to attention. We knew our turkey was in trouble.

Chicky's health went downhill quickly. We determined that he'd developed a sinus infection, and, although it was not severe, it seriously weakened our beautiful, strong tom.

Doctors from Cornell University Hospital for Animals came to our shelter and drew some blood for a series of tests. Chicky's bloodwork revealed three conditions: leucopenia, an abnormally low number of white blood cells; lymphpenia, a reduction in the number of lymphocytes in his blood; and a mild increase in uric acid levels.

In short, an infection was ravaging Chicky's system and, on top of that, he was experiencing kidney problems.

We began treating him with antibiotics for two weeks, which eliminated the sinus infection. To keep his kidneys functioning, we started him on 500mg of subcutaneous fluids every day. We also switched to a stronger broad-spectrum antibiotic and gave him medicine for pain,

To sweeten the pot, instead of his usual food, shelter staff prepared special feed mashes containing yams, fruit cocktail and other high-sugar, high-calorie meals to keep Chicky's energy up.
The combination of TLC, medical intervention and close scrutiny helped pull Chicky out of his slump. As he got stronger, we eased him off of the medication, and ended his treatment of subcutaneous fluids.

Chicky's now back to health—and back to his time-tested tactics.
If you're not immediately transfixed by his puff and his strut, Chicky effortlessly steps up his game. He'll provide you with multiple angles from which to adore him, tilting the fan of his tail feathers in the viewer's direction to facilitate maximum appreciation.

If that fails to garner attention, Chicky's not afraid to really turn it on, circling close to visitors, pinning them with his intense gaze and repeatedly popping out his snowy feathers to continue the show.

And the best part is, Chicky's back to his old self just in time for his favorite time of year: tour season. But we should've known that. No matter what adversity befalls him, Chicky is always ready for his close up.