Blackhead Med

[MoodyChicken]

So there's a medicine for pigeons that works well against blackhead (so I'm told), but I can't remember what it's called. M-something. The lovely wild turkeys brought Blackhead to my flock and it's picking off my Serama (I lost Shotgun, my sweet little boy from marriemartin! he was so cute! poor baby). My Moderns and Old English are recovering without treatment (most aren't even getting sick), but not so lucky with the Seramas, I'm down to one male and a female not worth keeping.

I've been using Ritzoll (or whatever it's called), but it's prescription only here and quite expensive for that reason. I'd like to find something cheaper that I can keep on hand in case any other birds develop symptoms. Does anyone know what med I'm talking about? And yes, it's CONFIRMED blackhead, and conveniently it's a RARE strain (of course).

 

[threehorses]

It's metronidazole. You can get it at First State vet for a very good price and quickly. In the mean time, while you're waiting for it to arrive, check your fish stores for 250 mg Metronidazole (on First State, it's sold as a canker med).

 

[mypicklebird]

confirming- metronidazole!
it is transmitted by cecal worms (type of roundworm) so good flock preventative medicine includes regular deworming with something directed at the carrier, ie something to kill roundworms. Metronidazole, high dose, can treat the histomonads (the protozoal agent of blackhead). This organism exists in the soil for a long long time, and gets transmitted via earthworms I think, to the cecal worm, then to the birds. So free ranging bug eating birds are most at risk.

 

[threehorses]

This is true - I had forgotten about that aspect.

My problem is reversed - I have turkeys who are usually more susceptible to it than chickens and a concern of them getting it. So as a result, I'm doing more frequent wormings for my flock than I would with a non-turkey flock. My wormings rotate fenbendazole and ivermectin, both of which kill the middle-man carrier of the protazoa, the cecal worm. Mypicklebird's advice is great about watching intake of earthworms, etc, for future prevention.

I'm very sorry that you have blackhead. May I please ask what symptoms you're seeing in your case?

 

[MoodyChicken]

Thanks guys! That sounds totally familiar! I'm going to order some to keep on hand.

So get this though, I know it's spread by cecal worms but the hen didn't have a single parasite! She's baffled my vet. Supposedly, in very rare cases it can bypass the worm stage, according to my vet.

Her symptoms were very sudden. I did notice she was thin a few days before she died, but she was also at the very bottom of the pecking order so I just took it as she wasn't eating enough. By the time she exhibited clear discomfort, she died within one day. Depression, BRIGHT green droppings, dehydration, disorientation, and death the next day. Poor girl didn't stand a chance. I haven't had anymore occurrences, and I've treated the flock that was exposed. I think I have it contained. Maybe it was just a fluke event; that hen DID eat every bug and worm that she could find.

 

[threehorses]

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She actually doesn't have to have the worm at all. Just someone had it, and she just got the protazoa somehow. Odd. She likely got droppings from someone else who is shedding the protazoa.

 

[MoodyChicken]

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OOOH. Okay, thanks for clarifying. I think the wild turkeys might have gave it to her. At that time the turkeys were practically inside my chicken coops. I think that's just too coincidental.

 

[threehorses]

Quote:
OOOH. Okay, thanks for clarifying. I think the wild turkeys might have gave it to her. At that time the turkeys were practically inside my chicken coops. I think that's just too coincidental.

Yeah that's likely - it's a problem in wild flocks as they are everywhere.