Help!!!

[MrsJones79]

I had 2 almost 4 month old lavender turkey hens. They both have died and I don’t know why. There were in with all of my chickens and ducks. They all get put in at night in a well ventilated coop. I came out on two occasions and found them dead. One was outside and one inside the coop. We have been having some really hot days lately, but I make sure they have fresh water. I even put a fan in the coop to keep it cool. Nothing attacked them. Can anyone help me out here? I’m at a loss.
I have 3 more babies (3-4 weeks old) that I am raising inside, but I’m nervous that this will happen to them when they get older.

 

[R2elk]

I had 2 almost 4 month old lavender turkey hens. They both have died and I don’t know why. There were in with all of my chickens and ducks. They all get put in at night in a well ventilated coop. I came out on two occasions and found them dead. One was outside and one inside the coop. We have been having some really hot days lately, but I make sure they have fresh water. I even put a fan in the coop to keep it cool. Nothing attacked them. Can anyone help me out here? I’m at a loss.
I have 3 more babies (3-4 weeks old) that I am raising inside, but I’m nervous that this will happen to them when they get older.

If blackhead is an issue where you live, keeping turkeys with chickens can be a death sentence. Without a lot more information it is impossible to make a reasonable guess as to why your turkeys died.

@casportpony would want to know if you did a necropsy and what their poop looked like.

 

[MrsJones79]

No I’ve never had any issues with blackhead. I’ve had chickens for 4 years and ducks for 2 with no issues with any diseases at all. I live in north eastern Ohio.

 

[R2elk]

No I’ve never had any issues with blackhead. I’ve had chickens for 4 years and ducks for 2 with no issues with any diseases at all. I live in north eastern Ohio.

Chickens are carriers of blackhead and rarely become sick from it. I have not heard of any issues with ducks and blackhead. Turkeys on the other hand are susceptible to blackhead.

Unfortunately just because a person has not had blackhead in the past does not mean it can't happen in the future. At least one hatchery was blackhead free for 20 years when it suddenly became a problem for them.

 

[MrsJones79]

How would I find out if my chickens are carriers of this?

 

[R2elk]

How would I find out if my chickens are carriers of this?

If you had done a necropsy on the turkeys, you may have found out why they died. @casportpony has pictures of her necropsy of a turkey that died from blackhead. If your turkeys died from blackhead then you can assume that your chickens are carriers.

You can also check with your local county extension agent, local turkey raisers, local veterinarians and as a last resort you can check with the state veterinarian to learn if blackhead is a problem in your area.

 

[sarahpetrey]

Chickens are carriers of blackhead and rarely become sick from it. I have not heard of any issues with ducks and blackhead. Turkeys on the other hand are susceptible to blackhead.

Unfortunately just because a person has not had blackhead in the past does not mean it can't happen in the future. At least one hatchery was blackhead free for 20 years when it suddenly became a problem for them.

 

[sarahpetrey]

I would get a good reliable chicken wormer and not worry about checking your chickens, just an expense, assume since they are outside animals they will have worms. Also, make sure all turkeys are wormed since they are susceptible. The cecal worm is the main culprit.