- Thread starter
- #11
@casportpony not meaning to be a pest, but would landscaping fabric work with a layer of sand and agricultural lime? Or would you lime before putting the barrier down? Then put sand and fresh straw?
Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
I have no idea if that would work or not. With landscaping fabric, I would worry about it coming up through the sand and them eating it.@casportpony not meaning to be a pest, but would landscaping fabric work with a layer of sand and agricultural lime? Or would you lime before putting the barrier down? Then put sand and fresh straw?
The lime would make the ground inhospitable to parasites and earthworms. Putting in 6 inches of gravel may be an option but I just like for poultry to be able to scratch and dust bathe like normal. Gravel just seems like a sad way for turkeys to live. I will keep them on cayenne for the first year of their lives at least so hopefully finding an adequate barrier to put down and the lime, coupled with the cayenne and keeping them away from chickens will work.I have no idea if that would work or not. With landscaping fabric, I would worry about it coming up through the sand and them eating it.
Another option would be six inches of base rock.
Most of the people that I have seen using cayenne pepper use it by sprinkling it on the feed. It is my experience that cayenne pepper does not dissolve well in water.Just wanted to update for anyone that may ever encounter this thread in a desperate search in the future. Cayenne does not prevent blackhead at the concentration I was mixing. I was mixing 1 tbsp of cayenne per gallon.
Well I knew it wouldn't mix up good and had thought about mixing it in their starter. I got the idea to use cayenne from a friend who has also dealt with blackhead in his turkeys. He said it works best in their water as they waste so much of the "dust" parts of the starter feed so I just followed his advice. I had even thought about adding some water to the starter and cayenne mixture and making it into a mash. I may try the cayenne in their dry feed moving forward. Or in scrambled eggs. They like scrambled eggs. Once they are on pellets solely as their ration the cayenne may stick to the pellets when mixed. I have introduced pellets to them just so they can try them out and get used to them but they are still mainly on 30%. I was going to start cutting their protein but now will wait until they are not ill.Most of the people that I have seen using cayenne pepper use it by sprinkling it on the feed. It is my experience that cayenne pepper does not dissolve well in water.
This is not to imply that cayenne pepper does or does not have a beneficial use when dealing with blackhead.
Good luck.
I put a heaping quarter cup with 2 gallons of feed add 2 gallons of water and stir well feeding it the next day. Water depends on how much moisture is in the feed.Well I knew it wouldn't mix up good and had thought about mixing it in their starter. I got the idea to use cayenne from a friend who has also dealt with blackhead in his turkeys. He said it works best in their water as they waste so much of the "dust" parts of the starter feed so I just followed his advice. I had even thought about adding some water to the starter and cayenne mixture and making it into a mash. I may try the cayenne in their dry feed moving forward. Or in scrambled eggs. They like scrambled eggs. Once they are on pellets solely as their ration the cayenne may stick to the pellets when mixed. I have introduced pellets to them just so they can try them out and get used to them but they are still mainly on 30%. I was going to start cutting their protein but now will wait until they are not ill.
This has all been such a nightmare, but I'm thankful I had all the medicines on hand and was prepared as blackhead kills them so swiftly. I have been assured by two friends in my area that raise turkeys that if I can get them past 3-4 months they will eventually build up a natural resistance to blackhead. I remain guarded but hopeful also. I may even try to keep a maintainence dose of metronidazole in their water for a few weeks if I can get them through the acute illness.
I put a heaping quarter cup with 2 gallons of feed add 2 gallons of water and stir well feeding it the next day. Water depends on how much moisture is in the feed.