Sick Turkey PLEASE HELP !!!

[Chickenmamma32]

I don't know on that one as we don't know what we are dealing with, if you double bag him and put in fridge, you can contact the state vet to do a necropsy and they will tell you what got him and you will know if you need to medicate and will be better off knowing what to treat with

thanks

 

[slordaz]

thanks

your very welcome, as don't know where you are couldn't post your states vet if you are in the US. If you have them do it know I think it's about 2 weeks to get the results but please update us on what you find out.

 

[casportpony]

thank you but he just passed away in my arms

I am so sorry for your loss.

 

[EggWalrus]

Thank you for the help. I will get some to keep here in case we need it in the future we are the same way it 26 miles to the closet town of 2,000 so not a lot of options there during the day. Should I give the other turkies some antibiotic to be safe?

@ Chickenmamma32
Lethargy and yellow poo in turkeys often means Black Head. It's a dreaded disease. Usually starts out with their feathers looking ruffled and then just laying around Alt instead of foraging. By the time you see yellow poo,is often too late. I have saved a few that got to the yellow poo stage but it took work and money. I gave them a regiment of safe guard goat wormer and fish Zole. And I had them on high protein chick starter. Black Head can live in the soil for 7 years and turkeys often catch it from chickens (chickens are usually immune) if you have more turkey, you might want to read up on Black Head and get them wormed. After worming,you need to give them a round of Fish Zole antibiotic. The Black Head parasite isn't what usually kills the turkey, it's the secondary infections such as Coccidiosis, Worm overload, and some other nasties. Your local county extention agent should also be able to tell you if there is a prevalence of it in your area. Lots of people have kept turkeys and chickens together, but Auburn University recommends keeping them seperated by a few hundred feet. Please Google "turkey black head", it could save your flock.

Edit: I almost forgot, raspy breathing is another symptom. Even if they don't have black head it won't hurt to worm them. And the Fish Zole is cheap compared to the cost of losing turkeys. It also won't hurt to put them on a high protein chick starter with amprolium as a Coccidiosis prophylactic.

 

[casportpony]

Are these pet turkeys? If so, to treat blackhead you will need metronidazole, Baytril, and Safeguard. If they are turkeys that you are going to eat, there is no treatment for blackheads because the drugs used to treat it are banned for use in poultry that is going to be eaten.

If you want to know if it was blackheads or not, you need to necropsy him and check his liver and cecal pouches.

 

[EggWalrus]

Are these pet turkeys? If so, to treat blackhead you will need metronidazole, Baytril, and Safeguard. If they are turkeys that you are going to eat, there is no treatment for blackheads because the drugs used to treat it are banned for use in poultry that is going to be eaten.

If you want to know if it was blackheads or not, you need to necropsy him and check his liver and cecal pouches.

It's weird that the FDA or what ever agency decided this, says not too eat any fowl treated with FishZole (metronidazole), But I've been treated by Drs with the exact same medicine. Crazy!
Edit: wild turkeys are immune to it, and heritage breeds are lot less susceptible, but I've never been able to save any kind of broad breasted except for one.
Sorry for your loss.

 

[Chickenmamma32]

@ Chickenmamma32
Lethargy and yellow poo in turkeys often means Black Head. It's a dreaded disease. Usually starts out with their feathers looking ruffled and then just laying around Alt instead of foraging. By the time you see yellow poo,is often too late. I have saved a few that got to the yellow poo stage but it took work and money. I gave them a regiment of safe guard goat wormer and fish Zole. And I had them on high protein chick starter. Black Head can live in the soil for 7 years and turkeys often catch it from chickens (chickens are usually immune) if you have more turkey, you might want to read up on Black Head and get them wormed. After worming,you need to give them a round of Fish Zole antibiotic. The Black Head parasite isn't what usually kills the turkey, it's the secondary infections such as Coccidiosis, Worm overload, and some other nasties. Your local county extention agent should also be able to tell you if there is a prevalence of it in your area. Lots of people have kept turkeys and chickens together, but Auburn University recommends keeping them seperated by a few hundred feet. Please Google "turkey black head", it could save your flock.

Edit: I almost forgot, raspy breathing is another symptom. Even if they don't have black head it won't hurt to worm them. And the Fish Zole is cheap compared to the cost of losing turkeys. It also won't hurt to put them on a high protein chick starter wieth amprolium as a Coccidiosis prophylactic.

Thank you for all the information I Will call the county extension agent first thing in the morning. They are on a medicated high protein started now I will run to town and get them meds

 

[Chickenmamma32]

Are these pet turkeys? If so, to treat blackhead you will need metronidazole, Baytril, and Safeguard. If they are turkeys that you are going to eat, there is no treatment for blackheads because the drugs used to treat it are banned for use in poultry that is going to be eaten.

If you want to know if it was blackheads or not, you need to necropsy him and check his liver and cecal pouches.

Yes they are our pets and are very spoiled with lots of attention. I will run to town in the morning and get the meds. Will it say how much they need of each and how often

 

[EggWalrus]

I bought a 30ct bottle of Fish Zole 500mg for 40.00 at Jeffers, but I live near there store. They may have it at TSC or your local farm co-op.

 

[EggWalrus]

Yes they are our pets and are very spoiled with lots of attention. I will run to town in the morning and get the meds. Will it say how much they need of each and how often

For the goat wormer, dose it like you would for chickens, you'll have to weigh each turkey. the turkeys I saved, i wormed them, then gave them half a capsule of fish Zole mixed in with wet chick starter once per day for 4 days.
Here are some search results for black head at BYC.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threadloom/search?query=blackhead turkey