3-4mo old turkeys dying

[Knightlight]

We're having issues with our poults dying all in the range of 3-4 months old. They do fantastic, then are very suddenly lethargic, off balance, then dead. In the span of a few hours. They're eating and drinking, strutting around, then just dead. We house with chickens and geese, but they have access to lots of space and arent crowded. They have a well ventilated coop, fresh water and high protein all flock feed available, and our property and birds dont carry blackhead disease. We also dont have any mareks or other diseases present in our flock. None are making it past 4 months old. No other birds are dying or showing issues. The same birds have been together since hatch and only die in the 3-4 month range.

 

[BoundlessLove]

Were they all from same hen or fertilized by same tom?
If so, could be something genetic.

 

[BoundlessLove]

@R2elk
Any conclusions?

 

[R2elk]

We're having issues with our poults dying all in the range of 3-4 months old. They do fantastic, then are very suddenly lethargic, off balance, then dead. In the span of a few hours. They're eating and drinking, strutting around, then just dead. We house with chickens and geese, but they have access to lots of space and arent crowded. They have a well ventilated coop, fresh water and high protein all flock feed available, and our property and birds dont carry blackhead disease. We also dont have any mareks or other diseases present in our flock. None are making it past 4 months old. No other birds are dying or showing issues. The same birds have been together since hatch and only die in the 3-4 month range.

You haven't described their excrement. Yellow droppings are a sign of blackhead.

The lethargy followed by rapid death can be a sign of coccidiosis.

 

[Knightlight]

You haven't described their excrement. Yellow droppings are a sign of blackhead.

The lethargy followed by rapid death can be a sign of coccidiosis.

Excrement is normal, not watery, not yellow. They dont have coccidiosis, I e dealt with that before in our poults. They're from the same tom, multiple hens. Other people arent having issues keeping them alive, Ive sold several this year. Weve had the same issue with poults weve bought from other flocks, not just our own.

 

[casportpony]

Sorry for your losses. Do you think you can cut one open and inspect the liver and intestines?

 

[R2elk]

Excrement is normal, not watery, not yellow. They dont have coccidiosis, I've dealt with that before in our poults. They're from the same tom, multiple hens. Other people arent having issues keeping them alive, Ive sold several this year. Weve had the same issue with poults weve bought from other flocks, not just our own.

Based on that information, it is definitely a site based issue.

There is a commercial hatchery that was blackhead free for 20 years which suddenly began having blackhead issues.

They were also almost wiped out of the turkey business by black gnats over a couple of years.

 

[Knightlight]

Based on that information, it is definitely a site based issue.

There is a commercial hatchery that was blackhead free for 20 years which suddenly began having blackhead issues.

They were also almost wiped out of the turkey business by black gnats over a couple of years.

There are adult turkeys on site as well as younger ones and none but the 3-4mo old ones are affected. Will it kill them at that age but not other ages? Weve checked their livers before and nothing was found indicating blackhead. I can do another check on the next one that dies though

 

[R2elk]

There are adult turkeys on site as well as younger ones and none but the 3-4mo old ones are affected. Will it kill them at that age but not other ages? Weve checked their livers before and nothing was found indicating blackhead. I can do another check on the next one that dies though

A necropsy is likely the only way that you are going to determine what the problem is.

Another issue that can cause similar deaths is botulism.

Sorry that you are having this problem.

 

[Knightlight]

A necropsy is likely the only way that you are going to determine what the problem is.

Another issue that can cause similar deaths is botulism.

Sorry that you are having this problem.

I did a necropsy and found liver necrosis. Combined with a few other issues we've seen, anemia we discovered in the living poults, anorexia Ive discovered in the living and deceased, I think its a combo of Aflatoxin B1 and Ochratoxins. We're moving the birds to a clean space and upping their protein back to starter feed, hopefully they clear the toxins and Ill have an good update in a week or 2.