Might have a case of blackhead.....

[mooman]

One of my 3 month old bourban red hens has taken to standing alone with ruffled feathers and looking drowzy. Some of the symptoms of blackhead. There is so much conflicting advice on cures and prevention. So far, I have isolated the bird, did my best to completly clean out thier large outdoor pen. Put the whole flock on medicated chick starter and bought some 10% fenbendazole paste as advised my fin29 in this post:

http://www.homesteadingtoday.com/showthread.php?t=240401&highlight=blackhead

I have not used this yet, but would like any advice on it's use and dosage (how much paste do you think 50mg would be?)

I located the turkeys as far away from chickens as possible, but they both free-range so there is the possibility of infection. I know the only way to be 100% safe is keep turkeys on wood or wire and not allow freeranging, but for me, that would be a dealbreaker.

I'm well aware of the folk remedy of cayenne powder (and may try it), but am looking for a more proven treatment. Most of these birds are slated to be breeders next year.

any help?

 

[meriruka]

I'd also like to know the dosage..........

 

[chickensioux]

I would try the cayenne immediately. Use a whole little container on their food and water over a course of three days. I have heard this works when caught very early. I use it occasionally as a prevention. Good luck to you and your birds.

 

[mooman]

Ok, I have isolated the sick turkey and put the whole flock on medicated food. the sick turkey got it's first dose of fenbendazole today and I will continue for five days. The thread I read said something about a pea size amount, which seems to me like it would be about half a grams so.......I put it on a piece of dogfood and it went right down.

I will hold off treating other members of the flock until I can get some second opinions on the safety and effectivness of fenbendazole (SafeGuard).

Does anybody regularly worm thier turkeys or chickens? What do you use?

 

[Harp Turkey Ranch]

Ok, I have isolated the sick turkey and put the whole flock on medicated food.

The medicated fed will not help with blackhead. There is some meds that can be used but if they do have black head they only have a few days after they start showing signs before they die.


The symptoms of blackhead are quite distinctive, but the name is misleading in that the head of the bird does not always turn dark.

The first symptoms are not specific but are suggestive of blackhead or cocci. The birds stand with their heads tilted downward or drawn to the body. Their feathers are ruffled; their wings droop. Their eyes are partly closed. At first the birds are alert when they are disturbed but they quickly become indifferent if they are seriously ill. Young birds may die within two or three days after the first signs of illness, but older birds may suffer for several days before dying or starting a slow recovery. The passage of thin, sulphur-colored droppings is characteristic of blackhead, but the disease is well advanced in turkeys before this is conspicuous; this does not often appear as a symptom in chickens. The period of incubation after contact with infection is 15 to 21 days.​

 

[Harp Turkey Ranch]

VermX is what we use, you must order it, but it is an organic wormer and we only use it on our breeders before they start to lay and then after they are done laying and we take them out of the pens.

http://www.wormersdirect.co.uk/birds-vermxforpoultry.asp

 

[mooman]

Thank you harp I was hoping you'd chime in. The symptoms you described are EXACTLY what she was doing. The medicated feed will help if it is cocci correct?

Here's the thing. Even before I gave her the meds this morning she was doing better. Spent most of the day on the roost (last two days it was asleep on the ground). She is alert, responsive and TICKED OFF that she is being separated from the flock lol.

I assume the symptoms you gave are generic for the beginnings of any turkey illness? Could she just have had a viral infection (turkey cold) or something? How long would you keep her isolated?
(or was that the 12 to 15 days you were refering to?)
thank you in advance

 

[sandspoultry]

Quote:
You pay to have something shipped from the United Kingdom???
Sharon

 

[Harp Turkey Ranch]

You pay to have something shipped from the United Kingdom???
Sharon

Yes we do as it is the only organic wormer that we know of and the USA doesn't have one taht meets organic standards, that we know of.​

 

[Harp Turkey Ranch]

I assume the symptoms you gave are generic for the beginnings of any turkey illness? Could she just have had a viral infection (turkey cold) or something? How long would you keep her isolated?
(or was that the 12 to 15 days you were refering to?)

yes the symptoms are generic.

Sounds like he has cocci to me ?? I would continue treating with the med feed and if he gets better after you win the battle with the infection I would stop using the meds and switch to 2 tablespoons of Apple Cider Vinegar per gallon of water for the first three weeks then if all is good switch to 1 tablespoons per gallon for the next 2 months or so or for a year, it will not hurt to give them for entire life and will keep coccci away with out meds.​