I can't address Mareks, but if Histomoniasis is caused by a protozoan parasite isn't there some way to deal with how it get introduced to the bird?
One has to stay on top of worming using a wormer to target the cecal worm.
Drugs have been produced that will control the disease but there may be restrictions on their use in commercial flocks.
Metronidazole (Flagyl, Fish-Zole) 30mg/kg is what I use to treat outbreaks, but I also have to be ready to treat the secondary infections that they often get along with it.
Frequent worming of flocks with benzimidazole anthelminthics helps reduce exposure to the caecal worms that carry the infection. Good management and biosecurity principles are important control factors. Good sanitation, housing birds on wire or concrete floors or intensive re-littering for floor-housed birds can reduce the level of infection.
Other than worming, can't do much with free range peafowl and turkeys.
Chickens and turkeys should be kept separated. Control relies on good management and control of the caecal worm (H. gallinae).
Ideally, turkeys and peafowl should never be raised where any chickens have been.
Would it help to use DE to dust on the floor of the coop? I dust the floor liberally when cleaning and then sprinkle DE on top of the wood shavings, so that birds dust them selves when they roll around in the shavings.
In my case, no, no coop.
On the Mareks, I will venture this. I ordered chicks last year from a breeder recommended. I sold most of the chicks after a few weeks but the ones I kept all came down with Marek type symptoms and I put them down.
I'm sure I have Marek's in my flock from one of the chickens that I brought home from the feedstore... Very scary place, always dead animals whenever I go there. I'd go elsewhere, but they are the only place that carry two types of feed that I use.
I knew they were this breeder line as I had banded all my own stock. These birds were young and just came into lay. Perhaps the Mareks problem you're having is being brought in?
It sure was, but it's in my flock now, so there's nothing I can do about it.
The moral for me is that no matter how well recommended a breeder problems can and do happen. I will be very reluctant to buy chicks from others but rather keep a closed flock.
My flock is closed now, nothing in, nothing out.
Also some breeds are more resistant to Mareks than other.
Very true.
