So I have a problem and need advice on how to proceed.
I got a breeding trio of turkeys in November. It was obvious right away when I got home that one hen was sick. I couldnt tell when picking them up she was sick since they acted frantic in the cage between transport. I asked the person I got them from about it and they said to deworm them but they were fine when they had them. I'm pretty convinced she, knowingly or not, gave me a turkey that was already sick.
That hen died, but the other hen and the tom seemed totally fine. Fast forward to last week, and the second hen has come down with the same illness. I have come to the conclusion its blackhead that they came with. I'm attempting to treat her with Metronidazole and have already precautionary started the tom on it, though he seems totally fine.
My prediction is the hen is probably too far gone, and the tom might live.
Assuming the tom lives, I'm wondering how to proceed.
Knowing he is exposed to blackhead I don't feel it is right to rehome him to make it someone elses problem. But I know keeping him alone, he may target my chickens to mate with and hurt them. I don't have a second coop to keep the turkey separate. But they do have .24 of an acre to roam, so they arent cramped.
Would it be best to just let him live out his days alone and hope he doesnt target a hen? Should I get adult hens and hope I can treat blackhead early? Should I get young chicks and raise them here and hope they can be treated early? Should I just hire someone to cull him regardless and call the turkey operation a failure?
I got a breeding trio of turkeys in November. It was obvious right away when I got home that one hen was sick. I couldnt tell when picking them up she was sick since they acted frantic in the cage between transport. I asked the person I got them from about it and they said to deworm them but they were fine when they had them. I'm pretty convinced she, knowingly or not, gave me a turkey that was already sick.
That hen died, but the other hen and the tom seemed totally fine. Fast forward to last week, and the second hen has come down with the same illness. I have come to the conclusion its blackhead that they came with. I'm attempting to treat her with Metronidazole and have already precautionary started the tom on it, though he seems totally fine.
My prediction is the hen is probably too far gone, and the tom might live.
Assuming the tom lives, I'm wondering how to proceed.
Knowing he is exposed to blackhead I don't feel it is right to rehome him to make it someone elses problem. But I know keeping him alone, he may target my chickens to mate with and hurt them. I don't have a second coop to keep the turkey separate. But they do have .24 of an acre to roam, so they arent cramped.
Would it be best to just let him live out his days alone and hope he doesnt target a hen? Should I get adult hens and hope I can treat blackhead early? Should I get young chicks and raise them here and hope they can be treated early? Should I just hire someone to cull him regardless and call the turkey operation a failure?
