Mystery Poops--Blackhead???

[b-squared]

Hi ya'll--

We have ten young turkeys, living pretty closely with chickens (I know, I know... it's risky, but we haven't had problems before!) and one of the turkeys is leaving behind wet droppings that are KIND OF yellowish--not the sulfur color that I've heard described for blackhead, just a yellowy kind of light brown. I've been finding the droppings for about three days now, so its more than a one-time deal. None of the turks look sick or lethargic, and we don't know which one is leaving the droppings, as they're all free-range. I'm getting pretty nervous that it might be blackhead, but I don't know which bird to quarantine or treat! What do you think? Should I be concerned? Treat the whole flock? Follow them around all day as a poop-sleuth to figure out which one is leaving the mystery droppings? Ack! Help!

 

[turkeymom]

Hopefully someone with more experience will chime in, but I might try worming with Valbazen. You may have some worms and, from what I understand, regular worming can lessen the liklihood of blackhead. Do a search for the 'normal chicken poop' website to use as comparison.

 

[al6517]

If they are all free ranging close to chickens they all could be carrying the disease as it stays in the ground where they contract it. No way to know for sure but I am with you as to your concern, now there will be subsequent post that will tell you others have tried this risky endeavor as well without any problems but that's not helping you much is it. Perhaps Cocci !!! it produces that color Poo, the disease will always be in the ground if it is indeed balckhead, some will say there is a cure but you won't know for sure until they begin to drop, it comes on pretty fast. Best wishes to you and I hope it is something different that you can treat.

 

[chickenzoo]

If it is foamy or browish, caramel... it might be cecal poo, or it could be something it ate...... Keep an eye on them and if one starts to seem depressed, pecking at food but not eating, standing fluffed up and not active then I'd start to be concerned. Bright mustard yellow poo is more accurate a color with lack of eating and more consumption of water. I would however invest in some Fishzole just encase you ever needed it or find out a place close by that carries it so you can treat quickly if you ever need too.

 

[SAHMof2]

I second the Fishzole advice. Good to have on hand. I found mine (a form of it) at a specialized pet store in the city. I am very certain my turkeys had blackhead. Along with the yellow runny poop they were very lethargic, depressed, head sunked into their bodies instead of raised high, and drank A LOT of water. There is a thread on here about cayanne pepper and ACV. Its worth a read if not to arm yourself with more knowledge.

 

[b-squared]

Thanks for the advice--I'll start looking for fishzole now. Here's the update: except for one of the turkeys that died in a (we think?) unrelated way this week

all of them are still looking pretty healthy as far as I can tell. We've been finding less wierd poops, although yesterday I found one where no turkeys had been, as far as I know. I did catch one letting a loose one drop a few days ago and tried to tag it with twist ties around its leg, but it must have gotten the twistie off. I'm starting to wonder if it might be a food thing--we try to feed all of our poultry seperately, but they all sort of get into each others food. Since this has started we've been more careful to get turkey food (flockraiser grain) to the turkeys and to lure the chickens elsewhere to eat. Thanks again for the advice... we'll try to keep you updated!

 

[chickenzoo]

Growing Turkey Poults need some Protein, so make sure they are getting 20% or higher. Once they get 6 months or so they can go on a Flockraiser type of feed if they are free ranging and eating bugs and stuff.