Turkey Talk for 2014

[AmericanMom]

The feed stores in my area won't have a clue about blackhead, and I'd bet the same is true for the extension offices. Sure, call the feed store, extension offices, but then call an avian pathologist in your State and ask them if what they think.

Think about this... how many of you send *all* dead chicks, chickens, poults, turkeys, etc off for necropsy or do them yourselves? Then think about your neighbors, what do they do with theirs? How can agency possibly know what diseases are in what parts of your town, county or State?

-Kathy

The small feed store in my area did know what it was and was able to tell me that there had been no reports of it around, same with the extension office. Yes, for sure do your due diligence but I have been hatching and raising my birds together for over a year with absolutely no issues with blackhead...

Also, when one of my Turkey Hens contracted Cocci last year I did call an avian vet and asked about Blackhead (I didn't know what was wrong with her) and was told the same thing I had been told from the feed store and extension office.

 

[casportpony]

 
The feed stores in my area won't have a clue about blackhead, and I'd bet the same is true for the extension offices. Sure, call the feed store, extension offices, but then call an avian pathologist in your State and ask them if what they think. 

Think about this... how many of you send *all* dead chicks, chickens, poults, turkeys, etc off for necropsy or do them yourselves? Then think about your neighbors, what do they do with theirs? How can agency possibly know what diseases are in what parts of your town, county or State?

-Kathy

The small feed store in my area did know what it was and was able to tell me that there had been no reports of it around, same with the extension office. Yes, for sure do your due diligence but I have been hatching and raising my birds together for over a year with absolutely no issues with blackhead... 

Also, when one of my Turkey Hens contracted Cocci last year I did call an avian vet and asked about Blackhead (I didn't know what was wrong with her) and was told the same thing I had been told from the feed store and extension office.

There is nothing wrong with asking feeds stores and extension offices these questions, I just hate to see people do so then act all surprised when their birds start getting sick. Far too often people come read theses posts on BYC (and other forums) and assume them to be true. Problem is that many posts are posts where people are just repeating what they have read.

FWIW, I think the person that started this thread raised turkeys, chickens, ducks and peafowl for quite some time before they lost a peachick to blackhead, and I raised them without any issues when were only 10 miles north of our current property. Moved here, a property that had never had poultry on it, and boom, blackhead. Now it's something I look out for on a daily basis.

-Kathy

 

[gevshiba]

Getting closer, but not there yet! We just had another inch of rain this afternoon (and maybe a small funnel cloud), so we'll see where the runoff puts it tomorrow.

One another note, I have 2 broody turkey hens. I gave them a few chicken eggs. They're sharing a nest box and they are very good about me taking extra eggs out, so we'll see how it goes.

 

[feedman77]

Getting closer, but not there yet! We just had another inch of rain this afternoon (and maybe a small funnel cloud), so we'll see where the runoff puts it tomorrow. One another note, I have 2 broody turkey hens. I gave them a few chicken eggs. They're sharing a nest box and they are very good about me taking extra eggs out, so we'll see how it goes.

Glad your getting rain after such a drought. Hope doesnt get totally flooded and all works out for you. And your broodies have a good hatch.

 

[devinandfeather]

Hi when I went to the vet they said it was something similar to fowlpox but they said it can get transmitted from chicks but I have my older birds with older chickens since they were a month old so I don't know maybe it could of been something wrong with the poults

 

[chickadoodles]

Quote: x2

 

[desertmarcy]

Yesterday I moved some 3 and 4 week old poults outside to a pen and combined with 6 six week olds. I was worried the older ones wouldn't accept the newcomers because of the age difference, but all was fine. The younger ones are taking a bit to adjust and are still a little freaked out but I think they will be okay. I usually don't like to move them out until 4 weeks but the 3 and 4 week olds had been together inside, so I didn't want to separate them and they were getting crowded. I gave them Red Cell water this morning for a boost. We had an unusually cool May here but now back to 90's this week. I've read where some people keep turkeys inside a lot longer but our climate here is conducive to putting them out younger.

 

[chickadoodles]

Sounds good desertmarcy. I started putting mine out younger and mine don't mind mixing ages. I try to keep a month old in with the younger ones to tend the younger ones. It has worked great so far. I usually only give the red cell when they are breeding age unless they some show signs of wry neck or something. Do you always use red cell on such young turkey poults?

 

[desertmarcy]

Sounds good desertmarcy. I started putting mine out younger and mine don't mind mixing ages. I try to keep a month old in with the younger ones to tend the younger ones. It has worked great so far. I usually only give the red cell when they are breeding age unless they some show signs of wry neck or something. Do you always use red cell on such young turkey poults?

I use it all the time from the time they hatch for at least the first week, sometimes 2 weeks. I believe it gives them a good start in life. I very rarely lose a turkey poult. 1 teaspoon per gallon of water. We actually measure the teaspoon. I know some people just estimate. I have just found the Red Cell to be cheaper, lasts longer, and easier to measure out than regular poultry vitamins.

One year I had the oldest turkeys in a big grow out pen. I kept adding poults to that pen as they became old enough to go outside. At a certain point ( and I honestly don't remember age/when), the older ones would no longer accept the younger ones and would peck their heads and do damage.

 

[desertmarcy]

Sounds good desertmarcy. I started putting mine out younger and mine don't mind mixing ages. I try to keep a month old in with the younger ones to tend the younger ones. It has worked great so far. I usually only give the red cell when they are breeding age unless they some show signs of wry neck or something. Do you always use red cell on such young turkey poults?

My older ones looked the younger ones over, but other than that, they ignore them. Do your month old ones actually help out the younger ones? Or is it just by example, like finding the food and water?