Recent content by wncpalm

We can all agree that the black bear is definitely an omnivore. And if you've got what the bear wants to eat, then you are going to have a hard time keeping him/her out of it. But at least here in the NC mountains, bears that have a taste for domestic poultry, are few and far between (as in...

You are right about bears (at least black bears) being more interested in chicken food than chickens (see post # 21 above). So be sure to store your food in a secure location and preferably separate from the chickens themselves. But if a particular bear develops a "taste" for chickens as a...

I just came across this thread, and wondered if anyone "out there" has experience with color development in either Chocolate Palms or Pencilled Palms? Here is my question: I have my first batch of Chocolate Palm poults, and two of the young hens (14 weeks) have a slightly different coloring...

Kathy makes a good point. Anecdotal comments about Blackhead "in the area" are not very informative. Blackhead is caused by a protozoan that is either present in your chickens and soil, or not. It is not airborne, so the question is whether the specific "area" where your chickens are currently...

One possibility from your color description for this poult would be that it is the lighter of the Blue Palm colors. But both parents would have had to be Blue Palms for this to happen. A picture would make diagnosis a lot easier. But Kevin Porter has a picture of a light Blue Palm hen on his...

OK. Here's a question for others working with the some of the new Palm colors. I have my first batch of Chocolate Palm poults, and two of the young hens (14 weeks) have a slightly different coloring, with some red/ brown shading on the wings and tail - where the four others are white. Here are...

Thanks for your detailed comments about a "management protocol" for Blackhead-susceptible poultry like turkeys and peafowl. Although you do not have the Blackhead protozoa on site, your management methods should be readily adaptable to mixed poultry settings where Blackhead is present. And any...

Despite the terminology, head color is not a primary indicator of blackhead, and the behavioral symptoms of blackhead are more extreme than you are describing. But the liver will tell you for sure.

I would love to know more about the blackhead ground cycle with cecal worms and how to control/eliminate it. All the above information about UV, dry conditions, and rotation are good things to know, and very important worm management tools. But what do they tell us specifically about blackhead...

I am a recent convert to all of the wonderful new Palm turkey colors, including Chocolate Palm, Blue Palm, Pencilled Palm, …. All of these new Palm colors build on the distinctive color pattern of the Royal Palm turkey. But they have been created by adding other color factors to the genetic mix...

Sorry for your loss. I am not saying that I know what happened in your case, but I did discover this Spring that keeping a tom in an enclosure with hen and eggs/chicks can be risky business. The tom in this case was very calm and friendly to both people and the hen. But when the eggs started...

Here are Kevin Porter's notes on incubating turkey eggs: http://www.porterturkeys.com/egghatchingtips.htm . And here are his recommendations for the rearing process: http://www.porterturkeys.com/poultstartingtips.htm I think that these will cover all the issues you asked about, plus some that...

Is this the same vet that prescribed amprolium to "treat" blackhead? I would strongly recommend doing your own research on this issue before putting your poults at risk. There is no question (from what I have read) that moisture can support the blackhead ground cycle, which involves cecal...

These are really excellent information sources concerning all aspects of the "blackhead cycle". Thank you for contributing. I think that we participants have learned a lot in the above back-and-forth discussions about amprolium and blackhead. But for the sake of those who come later, I would...

The Histostat50/Nitarsone is the active ingredient in the Blue Seal medicated Turkey food, discussed earlier. It is an arsenic compound and is effective as a blackhead preventative at the time of exposure but not as a treatment after symptoms appear. After a positive clinical blackhead ID on my...