A combination chemical/physical method for repeated restraint of turkeys

A method for the repeated long-term restraint of young turkey toms was developed. Fifteen mg xylazine/kg body weight was administered intramuscularly (IM) to each of 60 toms whose heads and bodies were then covered with surgical stockinette secured with adhesive tape during a total of 229 restraint events (RE). Toms then were restrained in dorsal recumbency for 2, 4, or 6 hr daily for 4 days. Those restrained for 6 hr received an additional IM injection of 10 mg xylazine/kg body weight after 3 hr of restraints. Three toms with airsacculitis or pneumonia died during restraint, and one with pneumonia died during the night between RE. The mean body temperature of restrained toms declined during the first 150 min of RE and then stabilized. Toms restrained 6 hr daily lost weight during the 4 treatment days. Toms restrained 2 hr and 4 hr gained weight, but the latter group did not gain weight as quickly as the former.