Need advice losing poults!

[Dire Wolf]

I'm in need of advice. I've lost 2 poults in the last 2 days, one to animal attack and the other just looks like it fell over and died in the yard. I noticed another one has a large black growth on its face next to the beak. I've been able to get 4 of the remaining 8 into the baby pen we built, I'll have to wait until tonight to get the rest into it. These birds live in a field that's about 1/3 an acre (and the surrounding area outside the field) with 10 chickens (currently fighting a parasite battle on them) and a goat and 4 juvenile turkeys. Their breed is Bourbon Reds, they're about 7-9 weeks old. Is this Blackhead? How do I treat it? I've only had them for about 2 weeks now. I really don't want to lose anymore.

 

[callieisspooky]

Are you sure the one didn't die and was then scavenged by an animal? Or was it alive & attacked? If the former, maybe there is a sickness going on in your flock.

Here is a link to symptoms/treatment of blackhead in turkeys:

http://www.thepoultrysite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=651

 

[Dire Wolf]

I'm wondering that myself. The first one that died we have no idea what happened there, but I'm thinking cat. They've been wandering around the whole yard and not just their field, we found the whole little flock in the garden one morning and they were on their way to the driveway when DH and Dempsey (dog) herded them back into the field. The second was still soft and had its eyes closed like it just fell over and went to sleep and died, the only signs of injury were from the fire ants. There was thinnish white and yellow poop on its bottom, but not enough to ascertain a good answer. None of the other babies have any signs of such poop, and everyone seemed just fine tonight after the crazy heat. Hopefully, putting them in the pen will increase their chances of survival. I'm really at a loss.

 

[PBAnnie]

Not sure what would cause a large black spot on the face but probably not blackhead. Note that turkey sinuses are right under the eyes and can get infected.

My take on blackhead (I'm not a vet and I don't play one on TV):

Turkeys can't survive some of the cecal worms that chickens carry (blackhead -histomoniasis). However, in my experience (royal palms) - if you get them through their first bout, they seem to not get it again. I watch like a hawk for yellow pooh - the day I see it, I give them Flagyl (metronidazole) (yes, same as women get) - seems to work - however, if you catch it on day 2, it's too late.

I use 1/4 of a 250 mg tablet 2x daily. I fill up a hypodermic (no needle) with water and squirt it in a cup. Then I crush 1/2 the pill into the water and suck it back into the hypodermic. Then while the patient is still roosted (morning and/or night), I squirt 1/2 of mixture into its mouth and the other half the next time. It's very inexact as the pills don't break evenly and it tends to stick in the cup, but it seems to work - I've not lost any more since I've gone this route (at least not from blackhead - it doesn't prevent racoons, bears, and dogs). I do this for a week - also, I always keep some on hand (albeit expired) as one day late and they're dead.

Hope this helps.

 

[Dire Wolf]

I've been looking for yellow poop and have found none. Hopefully, that means it wasn't blackhead. If the back bump on her little face is a sinus infection, should I just let that go? Everyone ate and drank and slept well today.

Thanks for the info, hopefully, I won't have to put it to good use.

 

[PBAnnie]

I can't help you with the black bump - I have no clue as to what it would be.

If this is your first round with turkeys - make sure they're drinking and eating. I dip their beaks (not too far as that causes other issues) just to ensure they are, then I make sure they're eating by day 3 (I use gamebird starter with amprolium). Some folks put a baby chick in with poults to "teach" them to eat and drink.

Turkey raising is definitely different from chick raising. I tend to lose a lot more at first but once they're past about week 8-10 they seem to do fine.

Side note on the blackhead - easiest way to watch for it is to check under the roost every morning - if you see yellow, you know which bird it is (assuming they didn't swap spots on the roost)

 

[Dire Wolf]

My poults are about 10 weeks old. I've been watching for yellow poo, so far none. The one tha5 died had a little bit, but its been a few days now and no signs in the others. (Knock on wood) Maybe by confining them I've removed them from the issue? The little black dot on the other one is healing now. I'm giving them a mix of turkey chick starter, whole corn, milo and oats. They seem to be enjoying it better than the last mix I made. I'm really hoping everyone stays ok.

Thanks so much for the extra info. I'm sure I'll need it in the future. I can feel the chicken math coming on. Lol