Blackhead or Histomoniasis case in Chicken

[chooks4life]

When you cure your birds, do the head/neck areas go back to their normal color? Thanks.

Yes, never lasted longer than 24 hours. I believe the same is true for European BH/Histomoniasis, though of course being more virulent chances are by the time they showed blackened skin they were too far gone already.

I think it's got something to do with the fact that the disease affects the liver, which is responsible for blood cleansing among other tasks; perhaps the blackness is dead blood cells. Just a thought, I don't know for sure yet.

Best wishes.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Yes, never lasted longer than 24 hours. I believe the same is true for European BH/Histomoniasis, though of course being more virulent chances are by the time they showed blackened skin they were too far gone already.

I think it's got something to do with the fact that the disease affects the liver, which is responsible for blood cleansing among other tasks; perhaps the blackness is dead blood cells. Just a thought, I don't know for sure yet.

Best wishes.

Chooks4Life I'm guessing your thoughts are dead on.

Head and neck of a Turkey is HIGHLY vascular. (Chickens are as well--even used for a cooling system on the bird)

One of the liver's jobs is removal of dead red blood cells (which are dark because they are oxygen poor).

Excellent thought process.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Update On Sylvia: She began her molt in July again. And is finished and feathers all back in place while the rest of the flock look pitiful in the middle of their molts. she's given me 2 eggs already this week. A few last week. At 2 1/2 years old she is my best hen. She remains high hen and "full of it."

 

[chooks4life]

It is just a theory with the BH/histomoniasis-caused blackening, but seems logical.

Wonder why Aussie/American forms don't seem to cause the same blackening though. Less virulent forms, or perhaps different focus of damage being the fatal aspect, maybe.

Congrats on her being in good form!

Best wishes.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

I always have seen logic and thought in your posts Chooks4Life. Glad to have you one here.

 

[chooks4life]

Ah, thanks.

Best wishes.

 

[casportpony]

Glad to hear Sylvia is better!

Regarding blackhead:
http://www.nwtf.org/conservation/bulletins/bulletin_25.pdf

-Kathy

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Thanks for the article Kathy.

I always wondered about the wild turkeys after Sylvia's case of blackhead. How they manage to thrive...

Huh. I should read those articles that DH forwards to me I guess. He's a chapter president for our local NWTF.

 

[casportpony]

I also like this one:
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/artic...d-organic-poultry-blackhead-in-turkeys-part-1

-Kathy

 

[chooks4life]

Glad to hear Sylvia is better!

Regarding blackhead:
http://www.nwtf.org/conservation/bulletins/bulletin_25.pdf

-Kathy

Quote:
lol... This was actually one of the 'experts' I had in mind when I wrote that previous post.

Yes, it can indeed cause their heads to turn black.