Tomato hornworm tragedy

[chickentales]

My week old bb turkey found a hornworm and choked it down. That night he died. Has anyone ever had this problem??

 

[Cindiloohoo]

no it likely was NOT the hormworm that caused the death of that poult. Sorry for your loss though

 

[chickentales]

Thank you.

He was so healthy until he ate that. It was as big as his head and afterwards his crop was so hard. I felt like a bad turkey mom.

 

[Cindiloohoo]

Aw so sorry. He must have found something else afterwards that you may not have seen him eat if his crop was hard. I don't think a hornworm would do that. Poor baby

I'm sure you are a fine mom!

 

[chickentales]

Thank you cindiloohoo! I'm sure learning. They are a joy to have around and keep me entertained.

 

[Cindiloohoo]

Quote:
Oh yes turkey poults are the absolute SWEETEST little things...ugly little suckers but sweet...lol! Ours are so mild mannered and lovey

I have some in the bator now. I can't wait!

 

[chickentales]

I got 20 chickens and two turkeys about 5 weeks ago. Now i'm down one turkey and the one left has been strutting and bossing all the chickens around. I'm not sure if i'll hatch my own. I need to learn more about what i'm doing and be a responsible owner. How exciting for you though!

 

[Cindiloohoo]

Young poults are more delicate than chicks by a long shot, but once you get them up past 8 weeks or so...those things are about indestructable! My tom got attacked by a dog at about 12 weeks, went into shock and had about 4 pretty bad puncture wounds...now he's about to be a daddy

They are SO much fun! They are really my favorite bird.

 

[Illia]

Wish we had hornworms out here in WA. . .

So sorry to hear of your loss though.

 

[jennh]

HI ! I'm sorry to disagree, but I think the tomato hornworm COULD have killed your poult. Tomato PLANTS, not the actual tomato, are poisonous. Read here:

One example is the tobacco hornworm, which concentrates nicotine to a toxic level in its body as it consumes tobacco plants. Poisoning of small consumers can be passed along the food chain to affect the consumers later on.

Jen

JMHO