Help! Sick turkey.

[KimL]

My turkey has become sick in the past two days. He is a bronze. Six months old. He is just laying in the garage by the fan and wont come out. He is drinking and I added electrolytes to the water. His stools are yellow liquid. Hasn't eaten in two days. What can I do for him?

Kim

 

[Eggcessive]

You might also post on the turkey thread for more advice: https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/20/turkeys
I am more familiar with chickens, but blackhead (histomonas) infection can be common in turkeys, especially if they are kept near chickens. It can cause sulfur yellow diarrhea, and is treated with FishZole (Flagyl, Metronidazole. Worming to get cecal worms is also needed.
Coccidiosis is another common disease that will cause diarrhea or blood in poop, lethargy, poor appetite, and a hunched appearance. It is treat with Corid (amprollium) or Sulmet. Here is a link about blackhead and common diseases of turkeys and poultry:
http://www.agf.gov.bc.ca/ahc/poultry/blackhead.pdf
http://albc-usa.etapwss.com/images/uploads/docs/ALBCturkey-5.pdf
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044

 

[casportpony]

@KimL , welcome to BYC! Sounds like he might have blackhead, which means he probably also has E. coli, so he needs medication ASAP! Can you take him to a vet?

-Kathy

 

[KimL]

Can I get meds at local feed store.

 

[Eggcessive]

To treat blackhead, you might call a pet store in your area that sells fish to see if they have fish zole or metronidazole. If you have a regular vet, they might also give you a prescrption for flagyl (the same drug.) Here is an EBay listing for some: http://www.ebay.com/bhp/fish-zole
The dosage I am finding is 15 mg per pound of weight, so you may need to weigh your turkey (or weigh yourself holding him and subtract your weight.) Fish Zole comes in 250 mg and 500 mg tablets.
Casportpony is much more knowledgeable about this than I am, so maybe she will help more.

If you suspect coccidiosis, Corid and Sulmet are usually found at most feed stores in the cattle medicines. We can help with dosages.

 

[casportpony]

Can I get meds at local feed store.

You might find fishzole at a tropical fish store, but I doubt you will find it at a feed store. The other drug (Baytril) you would have to order. Would be best to get him to a vet because if it is blackhead you don't have enough time to order the drugs.

Are there any pigeon breeders in your area? If so, contact them, I bet they will have the drugs you need.

-Kathy

 

[casportpony]

@Eggcessive , 15mg per pound is what I used to give mine once a day for five days, but now I give them 25mg per pound once and sometimes twice a day for no less than five days, but I also give them Baytril, because by the time they're pooping yellow, there is a very good chance that they also have E. coli.

 

[KimL]

I lost him. But thank you for your help.

 

[casportpony]

I lost him. But thank you for your help.

@KimL
So sorry for your loss. Do you have other turkeys? If so, you should consider buying the medications I mentioned as well as some Safeguard wormer. Blackhead is a horrible disease, but it is treatable with the medications and wormer that i mentioned.

-Kathy

 

[Eggcessive]

So sorry that you lost your turkey.