Turkeys - Tired/lack of energy and then dead

[hour3suns]

We started with 10 Broad Breasted White turkeys and as of this morning are down to 7. They are about 14 weeks old or so. Last week we had one die and then the next day another. This morning another was dead. We put them on medicated food and they have had that for at least the past week on chance that might have some effect. There is no weird looking poop and no symptoms other than them becoming tired/listless and staying to themselves. They go in the coop and then the next day they are dead. It's like they lay their head down and don't get back up. I have not been able to figure out what the problem might be. They free range during the day, and although it is hot they have plenty of shade and water. Anyone else that has raised turkeys have a clue as to what is going on? I've not had this problem before and am puzzled.

Smiling & Waving,
Sharon

[astevens4]

well id be looking for yellow watery poop - because blackhead can be a killer to them.

Other than that

Turkeys = suicide waiting to happen

Tony

[Buffgirl]

I'm really new to turkeys, but I've been reading as much as I can lately. I have read that Milkweed is poison to turkeys which I did not know. I don't know if you have milkweed in your area but I thought it might be a possibility. This is what it says about the effects of milkweed on turkeys.

Poisoning is caused by the whorled milkweed. Symptoms are drowsiness, lack or coordination, convulsions, exhaustion, coma and death. Milkweed is found in southwestern to south central U.S.

[LovePeepers]

Ohhhhhhhhhhh nooooooooooo. Wish I could help.. but here's a hug for your loss. Hope you get it figured out soon!

[hour3suns]

Yeah, it's got to be blackhead. I did some research on it right after posting and only thing I haven't seen though is the odd colored poop. They free range though so I wouldn't be seeing it all. I can't help but wonder if that mass of starlings we fought with throughout the spring brought it in as the turkey poults can't help but come into contact with the areas the starlings were in since they were everywhere. I knew those suckers were a problem then and I had hoped we wouldn't have issues later, but I really think they've mucked things up with their invasion. It may have been in the spring, but we had the poults at that time also. Not to mention with all the rain we've had and from what I've read of worms being carriers also, which is a poultry delicacy, it may have come by way of that also. Anway, that's got to be it. Real bummer!

Smiling & Waving,
Sharon

[RonL]

The common poultry cecal worm (carrier of Blackhead) is found in a high percentage of chickens. Chickens are not highly susceptible to blackhead. So this explains the frequent transmission of the disease from apparently healthy chickens to turkeys. For those that do, this is one good reason not to mix turkeys with chickens or even side by side. Hope you find the actual disease or at least stop it Sharon. Let us know how it ends ........

[Kinsey]

Awww, hope you can fix it :[
-hugs-

[skycladfaerielady]

So sorry you are losing birds. <hugs>

[hour3suns]

With death comes life. It's sad we've lost some turkeys but on an up turn one of the broody hens (the overly dedicated one, not the on again off again one) has hatched out some chicks. There are 2 little buggers in there. Not sure which kind they are though. From the looks of one bit of shell at least one is a Wheaten Maran. Oh, and on another life giving note, our family is adopting a horse and we are hoping to bring him home Wednesday. He was part of a big Ross County sheriff department involvement in taking 30 horses from a woman that wasn't caring for them. He's been in a stall for years and his front hooves are infected horribly. He is all bones and I don't know how he can even stand up. It's a sad sad thing. But, he is coming here to live with us so that means he will be well taken care of. I'll post more on him and a picture of him when he comes home later this week. The turkey poults have been shifted to yet another place here, again one where there are not chickens. I don't now if it'll do any good, but I still can't figure out the whole Blackhead thing when they've been in a pasture unused by chickens. We hope to save some. Gotta look on the bright side of things.

Smiling & Waving,
Sharon

[astevens4]

the cecal worms are carried by ALL types of birds - so quite possibly the starlings did bring it in.

If it IS blackhead you need to treat them with dimetridazole - may well be a vet only scrip though - over here it was withdrawn as they let their license expire and didnt want to do new research - obviously didnt make enough bucks off of it to make it worth while.

Tony

[hour3suns]

Yeah, that's what my poultry book listed for treatment. My vast resources (aka internet) have come up with this from the Merck Veterinary Manual through a link at the Department of Ag, "The only drug used for the control (prophylaxis) of histomoniasis in the USA is nitarsone at 0.01875% of feed until 5 days before marketing. There is no effective treatment available commercially. Nitroimidazoles such as ronidazole, ipronidazole, and dimetridazole are effective for treatment or prevention but are not available in the USA." I'll have to contact the veterinarian and see if they'll even give me a prescription for it.

Smiling & Waving,
Sharon

[dragnlaw]

hour3suns,
any update on how your turkeys are doing?

[hour3suns]

The 7 turkey poults are all doing fine now. I relocated them and I haven't had any losses since (ok, everyone reading this knock on all available wood). They free range during the day and I let them into their pen at night and we haven't had any casualties since.

Smiling & Waving,
Sharon

[CT Coop]

Not sure if you will see this, as I just ran across your post today. I have been raising turkeys for a few years. Started quite by chance, when 7 Heritage Turkeys showed up at my house in November of 2007! That was my first experience with any poultry and now I am hooked! Anyhow, we had a similar problem last year. We were losing so many we sent one to Purdue Universities Animal and Disease Laboratory for a Necropsy. It was not Blackhead, but Coccidiosis which caused the birds to starve. I didnt completely understand the report, but it sounded like even though they were eating, they weren't able to get nutrition from the food. They were younger than your birds though. My chickens and turkeys have separate coops, but free-range together. This year, I have had problems with my chickens, but none with my turkeys.

I always ensure the turkeys have medicated feed now, for at least the first 8 weeks or so...and make sure they are getting at least 28% protein in their diet.

Hopefully, by the time you see this your problem as been solved!

T of CT Coop

[hour3suns]

All 7 are still with us and doing great. No problems whatsoever and I hope that continues.

Smiling & Waving,
Sharon