Help?

[Barbara Kolohe]

I know absolutely nothing about turkeys at all. I have had chickens for some time and no problems there.
A friend called and told me she took babies away from its momma that had been nesting in her yard. She cant take care of them, etc, will I take them. I know, not a brilliant move, but she was also worried her dog would eat them. We will never know now.
I thought it would not be a big deal and they wouldn't be much harder than chickens etc. Now I find out that the chickens can pass diseases to them and all kinds of stuff. I thought we were going to be one big happy free range family. Guess not. Is it possible to even let them near each other after giving the chickens proper meds? That blackhead disease or what not sounds scary, and thats just one of the things that can be passed on. Should I try to find them a new home? I really kinda love them already and would love to keep them, but not if they are going to get sick.
Any help is greatly appreciated!
Mahalo.

 

[kstaven]

I can only speak from my experience here. We have kept turkeys and chickens without issue as do many around me. You will find a number on this forum who do the same. But having said that I do know others have paid the price with turkeys. I would talk to your local vet and see if blackhead ( histomoniasis ) is common around you.

here is some good reading http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10370_12150_12220-26481--,00.html

 

[kstaven]

Here is some more info

Many folks have heard that you should not run chickens and turkeys together in the same pasture. Is this true, or is it a rural hoax? Here is what author Damerow says about the Cecal worm which causes blackhead:

From The Chicken Health Handbook, pages 84 & 85:
"The Cecal worm (heterakis gallinarum)) is the most common parasitic
worm in North American chickens. As it's name implies, it invades the
bird's ceca. Other than carrying blackhead, to which most chickens are
immune, the Cecal worm does not seriously affect a bird's health.
Leghorns are more susceptible to this parasite than heaver breeds."
Chicken Health Handbook: http://www.back40books.com/item.asp?n=9780882666112&f=1

When I was writing my Free-Range Poultry Production & Marketing book I was in touch
with several university poultry programs. What I discovered is that it
actually is a plus to run chickens and turkeys together. The chicken
form of blackhead is indeed transmittable to turkeys. However, chicken
blackhead is a different strain and is not lethal to turkeys. In addition once a
turkey contracts chicken blackhead it has been immunized against the fatal turkey blackhead. Ah, the wonders of modern research tools.

Since I was producing the book with funds from a USDA grant I was
required to have my facts checked by a knowledgeable source. That
person was Anne Fanatico from ATTRA who also has a degree in poultry
science. If anyone cares to check this personally, Anne is still with
ATTRA.

I have raised chickens and turkeys, as well as geese and ducks on my
farms since 1992 with no problems, so either the research is correct or
I am very lucky.

Herman Beck-Chenoweth
http://www.back40books.com/get_list_1518.htm

 

[Barbara Kolohe]

I didnt even think of the fact that I may be worrying about nothing. Rabies is non existent here, would be nice if these fowl diseases were as well. The problem is trying to find a livestock vet here. I have been looking, but haven't found any yet. Really there are only 2 decent doggie vets on this entire island (in my own opinion of course).
Do you get as much rain where you are as in Washington? I worry also because the ground never truly dries here. Staph infections here can get obscene, both on people and animals.
Mahalo for the link, and the lovely pic on that site, lol. I'm thinking my best bet is to call the dept of ag on Monday.

 

[kstaven]

If you have an Ag extension office on the island it would be a good starting point as long as you find a person their with practical experience rather than one who recites from the book.

Lots of rain in our valley. Half our winter and at least that much of our spring is rain. Moss grows thick on the roof unless you keep it removed.


Aikahi Park Shopping Center, Kailua, Hawaii 96813 - Tel. (808) 254-1548

This is an avian vet that may be able to help answer your questions.

 

[kstaven]

I am actually in British Columbia, Canada. But the back of our property is almost on the washington border.