Turkey Talk for 2014

[casportpony]

Quote: People should also know that turkey poults can get blackhead at a very young age from something called "cloacal drinking".

Source: http://www.thepoultrysite.com/artic...d-organic-poultry-blackhead-in-turkeys-part-1

• Ingestion of soil or earthworms containing eggs of the caecal worm Heterakis gallinarum, infected with H. meleagridis
• Uptake of H. meleagridis directly into the lower digestive tract through the process of 'cloacal drinking'
• Oral ingestion of live H. meleagridis protozoa when stomach is not acidic enough to kill the pathogen.

"Cloacal drinking is the reflexive intake of fluids through the cloaca in order to inoculate the young bird’s immune system with the microbial flora of the surrounding environment."


More:
http://www.aaapjournals.info/doi/abs/10.1637/7420-081005R.1?journalCode=avdi

-Kathy
Thanks Kathy we all need all the help we can get when our birds are not themselves.

You're welcome! All of you should know that I do have actual experience in treating blackhead in turkeys, peafowl and chickens, so the advice I give is based on what I have done to keep mine alive, not just something I read. Caught soon enough and treated appropriately, like I tried to explain here and in the peafowl forum, survival for me has been well over 90%, but it does require acting fast and having the correct medications and supplies need for supportive care.

My biggest fear is that people will buy into the cayenne pepper cure and lose their birds. For those thinking about using it as a cure, ask people how many birds they have lost vs saved, that should be enough proof. I think cayenne pepper as a preventative might be a good thing, same for acidified copper sulfate, but to cure one will need metronidazole, fenbendazole and probably something like Baytril if their bird is really sick.

-Kathy

 

[chickadoodles]

Quote: People should also know that turkey poults can get blackhead at a very young age from something called "cloacal drinking".

Source: http://www.thepoultrysite.com/artic...d-organic-poultry-blackhead-in-turkeys-part-1

• Ingestion of soil or earthworms containing eggs of the caecal worm Heterakis gallinarum, infected with H. meleagridis
• Uptake of H. meleagridis directly into the lower digestive tract through the process of 'cloacal drinking'
• Oral ingestion of live H. meleagridis protozoa when stomach is not acidic enough to kill the pathogen.

"Cloacal drinking is the reflexive intake of fluids through the cloaca in order to inoculate the young bird’s immune system with the microbial flora of the surrounding environment."


More:
http://www.aaapjournals.info/doi/abs/10.1637/7420-081005R.1?journalCode=avdi

-Kathy
Thanks Kathy we all need all the help we can get when our birds are not themselves.

You're welcome! All of you should know that I do have actual experience in treating blackhead in turkeys, peafowl and chickens, so the advice I give is based on what I have done to keep mine alive, not just something I read. Caught soon enough and treated appropriately, like I tried to explain here and in the peafowl forum, survival for me has been well over 90%, but it does require acting fast and having the correct medications and supplies need for supportive care.

My biggest fear is that people will buy into the cayenne pepper cure and lose their birds. For those thinking about using it as a cure, ask people how many birds they have lost vs saved, that should be enough proof. I think cayenne pepper as a preventative might be a good thing, same for acidified copper sulfate, but to cure one will need metronidazole, fenbendazole and probably something like Baytril if their bird is really sick.

-Kathy
Thanks for sharing your expertise with us! I hope and pray I will never have to deal with that here. I have read that some people put the cayenne pepper in their chicken food every time they feed their chickens. I have not I was worried about their stomach and intestines.

 

[casportpony]

Thanks for sharing your expertise with us! I hope and pray I will never have to deal with that here. I have read that some people put the cayenne pepper in their chicken food every time they feed their chickens. I have not I was worried about their stomach and intestines.

Don't quote me on this, but I think Harrison Bird Food puts some type of pepper in their bird food.
http://www.harrisonsbirdfoods.com/

-Kathy

 

[Sydney Acres]

I bought 15 Turkeys from Murray MC Murray and 8 died in two weeks...***

Why do you think they died? What were their symptoms, and how were they brooded?

 

[Sydney Acres]

Quote:
Yes, there is cayenne pepper in their Spicy Lifetime Course formula, but I think it's intended as just flavoring, not as a therapeutic ingredient. Almost all my birds love the taste of hot, spicy peppers. My chickens and turkeys will eat jalapeno peppers right off the bush, and beg for Thai hot peppers that would set my sinuses on fire, but seem unhappy when they're only offered sweet peppers. Parrots absolutely love chewing and mouthing the hottest dried peppers I've ever seen. They don't act like they feel the burn. It seems like they just enjoy the intensity of the flavor.

 

[chickadoodles]

Turkey genetic pro's if I bred my BBW hen to a Std. Bronze tom what would I get?


And Porters is having a 40% off sale on a couple kinds of turkey if you want to check them out... I am.

 

[TattooedMama]

Turkey genetic pro's if I bred my BBW hen to a Std. Bronze tom what would I get?


And Porters is having a 40% off sale on a couple kinds of turkey if you want to check them out... I am.

Good looking out

My boyfriend may not be your biggest fan though if I buy anything!!

At least I passed up the Lav Orpington eggs from HinkJC on FB... they were $40 shipped for a dozen

 

[TattooedMama]

Yes, there is cayenne pepper in their Spicy Lifetime Course formula, but I think it's intended as just flavoring, not as a therapeutic ingredient. Almost all my birds love the taste of hot, spicy peppers. My chickens and turkeys will eat jalapeno peppers right off the bush, and beg for Thai hot peppers that would set my sinuses on fire, but seem unhappy when they're only offered sweet peppers. Parrots absolutely love chewing and mouthing the hottest dried peppers I've ever seen. They don't act like they feel the burn. It seems like they just enjoy the intensity of the flavor.

This answers some questions I had about feeding my babies anything spicy. I know people are on both sides of the fence regarding table scraps. As far as scraps go, I only have given them fruit and veggies. I hear a lot that people give spaghetti and their chickens love it, not sure if I have heard anything about turkeys and spaghetti though. I make super spicy spaghetti so I haven't tried to give it to anybody-lots of white pepper and hot sauce

On that note, how do you all feel about giving turkey's table scraps in a reasonable amount as a treat, do they like it?

 

[Sydney Acres]

Quote:
My birds love table scraps, but I do follow a few rules as to what I give.

1) I only give scraps after they've eaten a good breakfast, or an hour after I refill their feeder and they've had a good dinner (I only give them enough for 24 hours at a time, so their food is fresh every day, and I refill their feeder 2-3 hours before sunset. That way they eat well a few hours before they go to bed so they're nice and warm through the night, and they've got plenty of food first thing when they wake up in the morning and aren't so loud. During the middle of the day they run out of food for 2-3 hours, but they're free ranging so they get plenty of exercise and eat lots of grass). I save up their scraps and time it this way so that they eat their balanced diet well first, and don't wait and beg for food that might not be as completely balanced.

2) No more than 20% of their intake can be table scraps or scratch grains or other treats (grass doesn't count).

3) High calorie snacks are only given to the birds that need to gain weight.

4) Only healthy food is given. Only good quality food is given. If I don't want to eat it myself because its spoiled or poor quality, it's also not good enough for them.

5) There are a few things that I don't give them -- straight fat, bones, chicken skin, processed foods, high sugar foods (except fruit), too much fat at one time, avocado (potentially toxic to birds), rhubarb, or foods with little nutritional value,

6) Things that I regularly give them include small amounts of meat (fish, chicken, beef) cut into small pieces (because the turkeys will choke), boiled or scrambled eggs, yogart, cottage cheese, cooked or raw grains or whole wheat pasta or breads (if they're not overweight), fruit and vegetables from the orchard or garden (cherries, pears, apples, plums, grapes, currents, gooseberries, melons, kiwi, tomatoes, grated carrots, grated radishes, grated broccoli stems, romaine lettuce, spinach, collards, asian greens, peas, sweet peppers, hot peppers (a huge favorite), cooked potatoes, shredded brussell sprouts, fresh corn, eggplant, cucumber, pumpkin, squash, those sorts of things). They'll eat almost anything if they're taught to do so early enough. But turkeys aren't as good at taking a large piece of food and shaking it or tearing it apart into small pieces, so it is important to cut everything up small enough to not just fit through the mouth but slide through the intestines without getting stuck. Large chunks can cause choking or blockages. I had one bird get a crop blockage because she ate too many finely chopped broccoli florettes at once and they all clung together, so I don't do that anymore.

7) I try to figure out what some of the favorite foods are of each bird. That way if someone gets sick and I have to beg it to eat, I'll know what it finds irresistible.

 

[TattooedMama]

My birds love table scraps, but I do follow a few rules as to what I give.

1) I only give scraps after they've eaten a good breakfast, or an hour after I refill their feeder and they've had a good dinner (I only give them enough for 24 hours at a time, so their food is fresh every day, and I refill their feeder 2-3 hours before sunset. That way they eat well a few hours before they go to bed so they're nice and warm through the night, and they've got plenty of food first thing when they wake up in the morning and aren't so loud. During the middle of the day they run out of food for 2-3 hours, but they're free ranging so they get plenty of exercise and eat lots of grass). I save up their scraps and time it this way so that they eat their balanced diet well first, and don't wait and beg for food that might not be as completely balanced.

2) No more than 20% of their intake can be table scraps or scratch grains or other treats (grass doesn't count).

3) High calorie snacks are only given to the birds that need to gain weight.

4) Only healthy food is given. Only good quality food is given. If I don't want to eat it myself because its spoiled or poor quality, it's also not good enough for them.

5) There are a few things that I don't give them -- straight fat, bones, chicken skin, processed foods, high sugar foods (except fruit), too much fat at one time, avocado (potentially toxic to birds), rhubarb, or foods with little nutritional value,

6) Things that I regularly give them include small amounts of meat (fish, chicken, beef) cut into small pieces (because the turkeys will choke), boiled or scrambled eggs, yogart, cottage cheese, cooked or raw grains or whole wheat pasta or breads (if they're not overweight), fruit and vegetables from the orchard or garden (cherries, pears, apples, plums, grapes, currents, gooseberries, melons, kiwi, tomatoes, grated carrots, grated radishes, grated broccoli stems, romaine lettuce, spinach, collards, asian greens, peas, sweet peppers, hot peppers (a huge favorite), cooked potatoes, shredded brussell sprouts, fresh corn, eggplant, cucumber, pumpkin, squash, those sorts of things). They'll eat almost anything if they're taught to do so early enough. But turkeys aren't as good at taking a large piece of food and shaking it or tearing it apart into small pieces, so it is important to cut everything up small enough to not just fit through the mouth but slide through the intestines without getting stuck. Large chunks can cause choking or blockages. I had one bird get a crop blockage because she ate too many finely chopped broccoli florettes at once and they all clung together, so I don't do that anymore.

7) I try to figure out what some of the favorite foods are of each bird. That way if someone gets sick and I have to beg it to eat, I'll know what it finds irresistible.

Fantastic reply!! Thanks for breaking it down for me and hopefully someone else may find this useful along the way as well. My chickens love watermelon and they have had corn on the cob maybe 3x. Last night I offered them some grilled zucchini, bell peppers and onions leftover from making kabobs.