Blackhead disease or depression

[Jbureau]

Hi

I found one of my 6 weeks old turkey in a corner this morning, standing up, head down between the legs and eyes closed. She had little balance and looked like she had no energy. I isolated her right away and she just stood there for quite a few hours in that same position. I researched and thought the symtoms looked like blackhead disease. I was kind of at a loss. we do have chickens so that could explain it. I decided to give her a little "energy" drink which she barely touched at first. But every hour, i forced her to more and then all of a sudden, she perked up a bit, drank some more and finally lied down for a nap. She drank a lot more, started talking away like she was finally back with us. She was fighting to get out of the pen so I tested her and put her back with the others and right away they all started picking on her, pecking at her head and she went into a corner and almost took that same position again, head down between the legs. I got her out of there as fast as I could. Can anyone tell me what is going on? She walked around for a few seconds after I got her out and looked as if she was back to square one, lethargic and out of balance. In a pen alone she went and then perked up again. Started doing grooming herself, getting ready for bed. Which she did 5 minutes later. Now she is sleeping.

Help?

JB

 

[casportpony]

Hi

I found one of my 6 weeks old turkey in a corner this morning, standing up, head down between the legs and eyes closed. She had little balance and looked like she had no energy. I isolated her right away and she just stood there for quite a few hours in that same position. I researched and thought the symtoms looked like blackhead disease. I was kind of at a loss. we do have chickens so that could explain it. I decided to give her a little "energy" drink which she barely touched at first. But every hour, i forced her to more and then all of a sudden, she perked up a bit, drank some more and finally lied down for a nap. She drank a lot more, started talking away like she was finally back with us. She was fighting to get out of the pen so I tested her and put her back with the others and right away they all started picking on her, pecking at her head and she went into a corner and almost took that same position again, head down between the legs. I got her out of there as fast as I could. Can anyone tell me what is going on? She walked around for a few seconds after I got her out and looked as if she was back to square one, lethargic and out of balance. In a pen alone she went and then perked up again. Started doing grooming herself, getting ready for bed. Which she did 5 minutes later. Now she is sleeping.

Help?

JB

Welcome to BYC!

Can you post a picture of her poop? Can you weigh her? It would be best to bring her inside where it's warm until you can figure out what's wrong with her. If possible, you should take her to a vet tomorrow.

-Kathy

 

[casportpony]

The minimum effective treatment for blackhead is metronidazole 30mg/kg once a day for five days, but I have read posts where vets have prescribed up to 60mg/kg *twice* a day for five days. In addition to that, you will also need to de-worm with Safeguard at 50mg/kg by mouth once and repeat in ten days. Birds with blackhead will often also develop a secondary infection, usually E. coli and for that you'll need something like Baytril.

All can be purchased without a presciption online.

Fish-Zole is 250mg of metronidazole (Flagyl).


You can also buy it in 100mg tablets:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/MedPet-Medi...912?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3ccdd8fa60



Fish-Zole is cheaper, but this will help those that need to medicate their birds right away.
http://www.petsmart.com/product/ind...ferralID=be9d6d47-449f-11e3-a8bc-001b2166c62d




Wormers:







Baytril:
http://www.allbirdproducts.com/newproductpages/baytril.html
http://www.ladygouldianfinch.com/product_baytril.php

-Kathy

 

[casportpony]

It could also be coccidiosis and for that you would need to treat with Corid (amprolium).

FDA recommendations:
http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/animaldrugsatfda/details.cfm?dn=013-149
"Chickens
Indications: For the treatment of coccidiosis.
Amount: Administer at the 0.012 percent level in drinking water as soon as coccidiosis is diagnosed and continue for 3 to 5 days (in severe outbreaks, give amprolium at the 0.024 percent level); continue with 0.006 percent amprolium-medicated water for an additional 1 to 2 weeks."

And this link has these instructions:
http://www.drugs.com/vet/amprol-9-6-solution-can.html
"Poultry - as Soon As Caecal Coccidiosis Is Diagnosed, Give 0.024% Amprolium In The Drinking Water For 5 To 7 Days. Continue The Treatment With 0.006% Amprolium Medicated Water For An Additional One To Two Weeks. No Other Source Of Drinking Water Should Be Available To The Birds During This Time."

The preventative dose (.006%) for Corid Powder is 1/3 teaspoon.
The preventative dose (.006%) for Corid liquid is 1/2 teaspoon.

The moderate outbreak dose (.012%) for Corid Powder is 3/4 teaspoon.
The moderate outbreak dose (.012%) for Corid liquid is 1 teaspoon.

The severe outbreak dose (.024%) for Corid Powder is 1.5 teaspoons
The severe outbreak dose (.024%) for Corid liquid is 2 teaspoon.

Corid and Amprol are usually found in the cattle section of feedstores, they look like this:








-Kathy

 

[Jbureau]

Hi Kathy

Thanks for your response. Her poop is bright yellow liquid although she did poop a hard one once she perked up. I dont think she has eaten much since this morning. Hopefully by tomorrow. Like I said, she has/had all the symptoms for Blackhead.

hmmm..

JB

 

[mightymax]

Not having a poop visual, I think I would still consider the depression angle. I find turkeys to be intelligent and sensitive creatures. And I'm not being anthropomorphic.

 

[Jbureau]

Well honestly both times I took her out of the coop, she got better...She is spending the night by herself so I am curious to see how she will be in the morning...to be continued!

 

[casportpony]

Hi Kathy

Thanks for your response. Her poop is bright yellow liquid although she did poop a hard one once she perked up. I dont think she has eaten much since this morning. Hopefully by tomorrow. Like I said, she has/had all the symptoms for Blackhead.

hmmm..

JB

If it's bright yellow it is almost certainly blackhead and you need to treat her with metronidazole or there is a very good chance she will die.

-Kathy

 

[casportpony]

Not having a poop visual, I think I would still consider the depression angle. I find turkeys to be intelligent and sensitive creatures. And I'm not being anthropomorphic.

No offense... While I agree that they are sensitive and somewhat intelligent, this one is not depressed, that I guarantee. Yellow poop is a very bad sign.

-Kathy

 

[casportpony]

Blackhead poop:

a











-Kathy