HELP....my turkeys are dying!

[armyturner]

I purchase 15 standard bronze turkey chicks about 2 1/2 months ago. I didn't have a problem with them while they were young, but now they are starting to die off. I have lost 5 in the last 2 weeks, 3 of those in the last 4 days! They all seem to be healthy. All but one died overnight. I saw the one that died during the day. It almost seemed like it had some kind of neurological problem. It was flopping and flailing around, its neck was swaying as if it had no muscle control, then it died within 20 or so minutes. The turkeys do run with my ducks and chickens. Could it be something passed on from the other poultry, or did I buy chicks that were already were diseased?

 

[jasonm11]

I am sorry to hear of the loss, what part of the world do you live in?

 

[Stormy Autumn]

What are you feeding them? It could be some kind of vitamin deficiency.

 

[armyturner]

I live in north central Arkansas. I am feeding them 26% gamebird starter.

 

[Jocasta]

How long have they been mixing with the chickens? What does their poo look like? Any sulphur coloured stools? Could it be blackhead? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackhead_disease. I've heard that apple cider vinegar in their water and cayenne pepper in their feed can help protect them against parasites and desease but I've no personal experience.

Sorry to hear of your problems, hope you don't suffer any more losses

 

[flowerhippie]

I had bronze breasted turkeys also, I found that If I gave the grower food they grew so fast that there legs would no longer support there weight there body actually grew faster than there legs. I began to give them a flock raiser to slow the growth, I wanted to have turkey in the fall so I found to let them grow slowly and give them space in the grass to forage,, If the turkeys are left in the coop they will not have vigor. I hope all is well,