illnesses in turkeys

[KatyTheChickenLady]

more newbie questions

I hear black head mentioned all the time, are there any other illnesses that turkeys are prone to that a beginner should watch out for?

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

Respiratory issues are right up there to, I read alot of posts about that. Poults are very prone to Cocci. After about 6 months ish they are pretty much good to go.

Like any other animal managment is the key, overcrowding, lack of ventilation, wet muddy conditions, not enough protien in the feed will have you burying alot of turkeys.

Steve

 

[KatyTheChickenLady]

I used to treat for cocci in my chickens and it seemed like I was always loosing birds to cocci. once I stopped feeding medicated feed & started putting them on the ground at 1 week, and NOT treating for it I started only loosing 1 or 2 a year. that's worked well for the chickens . . . I hope it works well for the turkeys, it did for my first batch. and I do kind of like raising for the naturally strong survivors.

do they get mareks or any of those other weird chicken things?

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

They can pretty much get anything a chicken can get. mareks, newcastle and everything else. Since you have seen cocci before be a poo watcher with your poults. The ALBC turkey manual covers alot as well. http://www.albc-usa.org/EducationalResources/turkeys.html

Steve