I've got blackhead

[casportpony]

Once a turkey contracts blackhead how much time do you have to save them and how long does it take to spread all over it's head???

How much time you have depends on the age and health of the turkey and whether it gets a secondary infection like e. Coli or coccidiosis. The disease doesn't "spread over the head", it affects the liver and the cecal pouches. If one has a turkey with something on it's head that's probably fowl pox. Blackhead has nothing to do with the head.

-Kathy

 

[trunkman]

Thanks casprotpony, the reason I ask is because a couple of weeks ago I noticed but got sidetracked and forgot that one of my toms has a couple of dark spots on the back of his neck, about the size of a small pea and was wondering if that was something I should be concerned about, the spots haven't grown or spread after checking just yesterday.

 

[casportpony]

Thanks casprotpony, the reason I ask is because a couple of weeks ago I noticed but got sidetracked and forgot that one of my toms has a couple of dark spots on the back of his neck, about the size of a small pea and was wondering if that was something I should be concerned about, the spots haven't grown or spread after checking just yesterday.

The disease usually presents with one or more of the following:

• Appetite changes
• Abnormal poop
• Depression
• Weight loss
• Dropped wings
• Increased thirst
• Fluffed feathers

-Kathy

 

[furbabymum]

Ok. So I didn't do the autopsy and you had me doubting it a bit. I did some online research. The poo was very very runny and sulpherish. The head was a dark color. The turkey was eating but it couldn't walk well and when it tried it hobbled about.

http://www.albc-usa.org/documents/turkeymanual/ALBCturkey-5.pdf

Seems like blackhead. I did read through most of these and it seems like the only one that fits.

Of course now I'm in a bit of a panic about all of my birds. I've been doing the cayenne pepper in food thing but I know there is a large debate about whether that works or not. I'm going to hit PetSmart next time I'm in Colorado. We don't have one here. Hopefully it was just a one off.

 

[casportpony]

The stuff at Petsmart has 10 packs, that's the same as 10 pills, so money wise, you're better off buying a bottle of Fish-Zole.
http://www.ebay.com/bhp/fish-zole

-Kathy

 

[casportpony]

Probably a good idea to worm them with something like Safeguard (fenbendazole) or Valbazen (albendazole).

-Kathy

 

[mamawolf544]

Adding my couple of cents. But you should call your local AG Extension office and see if blackhead is in your area. If it is I. Your area you will want to rethink how you are going to house them, separate them from the chickens. Or not keeping them at all.

 

[casportpony]

Adding my couple of cents. But you should call your local AG Extension office and see if blackhead is in your area. If it is I. Your area you will want to rethink how you are going to house them, separate them from the chickens. Or not keeping them at all.

It sure won't hurt to call them, but they can't say for sure where blackhead is or isn't unless necropsies have been performed on *all* chickens, turkeys and gamefowl from *all* backyard flocks in the area for that last several years. It's probably a good idea to also call your State lab:
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/nahln/downloads/all_nahln_lab_list.pdf

-Kathy

 

[mamawolf544]

It sure won't hurt to call them, but they can't say for sure where blackhead is or isn't unless necropsies have been performed on *all* chickens, turkeys and gamefowl from *all* backyard flocks in the area for that last several years. It's probably a good idea to also call your State lab:
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/nahln/downloads/all_nahln_lab_list.pdf

-Kathy

Exactly, too many folk's diagnose from the internet, and my friend said. You should always start with your local Ag office and go from there. I have heard the term "blackhead" used allot this year for some reason. And IMHO that has not been the case.

 

[casportpony]

Exactly, too many folk's diagnose from the internet, and my friend said. You should always start with your local Ag office and go from there. I have heard the term "blackhead" used allot this year for some reason. And IMHO that has not been the case.

I've also heard it used a lot and most people have lost their birds to what was probably it.

FWIW, I have left two messages with my local ag office and they haven't bothered to call me back.

-Kathy