Blackhead disease in turkeys>>?

[KsTornado11]

Has anyone ever heard of or eperianced this disease? I was wondering,as someone on another board was wondering about keeping chickens & turkeys together. I've done it for a few years w/ no problems. Have had chickens fall ill & die,but not the turkeys. I haven't heard of a breakout of blackhead in Kansas.

 

[Broke Down Ranch]

I have heard of it but never experienced it. I have kept mine together too but they always free-ranged during the day. I wonder if keeping them penned together 24/7 would make a difference? I know back in the old days farmers never worried about such things but back then they probably didn't have some of the nasty stuff that birds can get nowadays.....

Like I said I never had a problem with it....but then again I am known for not following the "rules". lol

 

[KsTornado11]

Me too,my turkeys have the run of the place, they are never penned up w/ the chickens. Seems like I read that Blackhead is mostly a problem down south..?

 

[Broke Down Ranch]

I have not met in person anyone that has had an issue with it in their flock so....

 

[coopist]

When I raised Royal Palms, I had a breakout and lost several birds, My vet prescribed metronidazole, and it worked like a charm.

 

[SoccerMomof7]

What is blackhead disease?

 

[coopist]

It's a disease caused by a protozoan parasite that kills young turkeys (older birds have more immunity). It can be carried by chickens, which sometimes get it from eating earthworms. If you raise chickens and turkeys on free range together, you may end up with it at some point. Some people use cayenne as a preventive, but I don't know how well that works... There's also something called Histostat-50 that's supposed to prevent it, and that probably works.