AUSTRALIAN POULTRY FORUM™

I bought some turkeys a litttle while ago and all seemed to be going well until late Sunday afternoon when one became fluffed up and a little lethargic.

I found her dead on Monday morning.

I have just put the 2nd dead one in the bin and now a 3rd one is fluffed up.

Vents are clean and birds have been free-ranging without issue with the chooks (no chook deaths btw).

This 3rd one seemd to have a bit of dried blood in the beak but thats the only sign apart from fluffed up and lethargy that seems to be out of the norm.

There are no poisons etc around the yard they could have gotten into...this really has me stumped and a little peeved as I have only had them a few weeks and now I am down to 3.

They have all been wormed.

Any ideas guys?? I have contaced the breeder and he was of no help at all except to say at this age they are normally very hardy

Oh Sebastion that is very sad. I remember your excited post when you first got these guys!

I have only had two turkey poults for a few weeks, so don't have much knowledge about turkeys yet.

Me being me I would whack the remaining one on Oxy B and a sulphur med in case it is a bacterial thing, however if viral all you can do is support. One of my hens (chooks) that died recently from a respiratory virus had blood in her beak, but I don't think turkeys are prone to that particular disease.

Good luck with your remaining babies.

Deb

Thanks Deb.

Now down to just one + Yoga...had to cull the 3rd this morning.

It has been suggested that it might be poisoning by the breeder since this morning....only things I can spot they have eaten is parsley and zucchini leaves....which all the birds have eaten and as stated earlier no dead chooks.

Think I have the tom left and Yoga looks a hen so here is hoping.

Quite peeved I have lost so many in such a short time though.

How sad, even worse when you dont know what's happening. I'd probably put them on the antibacterials too, if only to prevent secondary infection. Hopefully whatever it is won't kill another.

There isn't any access to compost heaps are there?

That is terrible b&p.

It's bad enough to lose one let alone three.

I know how much you enjoyed them.

Good luck with Yoga and the other turkey. My fingers are crossed for them.

Relle

I would have to guess that it is Blackhead. Chickens are carriers and it does not bother them but will kill Turkeys.
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Blackhead (Histomoniasis, Enterohepatitis)

Blackhead is an acute or chronic protozoan disease of fowl, primarily affecting the cecae and liver. The disease is present wherever poultry are raised. Blackhead is one of the critical diseases of growing turkeys and game birds. It may cause stunted growth, poor feed utilization and death. It is of lesser economic importance in chickens since they are more resistant, but the incidence in chickens apparently is increasing.
Blackhead is caused by a protozoan parasite called Histomonas meleagridis. The organism in passed in the fecal material of infected birds. In many instances, the organism is shed within the eggs of the cecal worm of chickens, turkeys and game birds. Free-living blackhead organisms do not survive long in nature, but those in cecal worm eggs may survive for years. Therefore, most blackhead transmission is considered due to ingesting infected cecal worm eggs. Transmission may also occur by the earthworm.

Chickens are frequently infected without showing signs of the disease. These chickens may shed enormous numbers of blackhead organisms, many of which are protected by cecal worm eggs. Outbreaks in turkeys can often be traced to direct or indirect contact with ranges, houses or equipment previously used by chickens. Free-flying birds may also contribute to an infection.

Most blackhead losses occur in young birds (six to sixteen weeks). Among the symptoms are loss of appetite, increased thirst, droopiness, drowsiness, darkening of the facial regions and diarrhea. Morbidity and mortality are variable, but mortality seldom exceeds fifteen percent; however, it may approach one-hundred percent in uncontrolled turkey outbreaks. Losses are usually low in chickens.

Lesions of uncomplicated blackhead are confined to the cecae and liver, thus the reason for the synonymous term, enterohepatitis. The cecae are ballooned and walls may be thickened, necrotic and ulcerated. Caseous (cheesy) cores within the cecae may be blood tinged. Peritonitis may be present if ulcers have perforated the ceca walls. Livers are swollen and display circular depressed areas of necrosis about one-half inch in diameter. Smaller lesions coalesce to form larger ones. Lesions are yellowish to yellow-green and extend deeply into the underlying liver tissue. Healing lesions may resemble those seen in visceral leukosis.

Blackhead diagnosis is made readily on the basis of the lesions. Atypical forms, particularly in chickens, must be differentiated from cecal coccidiosis and Salmonella infections in particular. Medications may interfere with atypical lesions. Laboratory tests may be required for positive diagnosis in such cases.

Good management practices can do much to control the blackhead problem. Do not keep birds of different species on the same premises. Do not range turkeys on ground previously used by chickens unless several years have elapsed. Rotate ranges periodically if possible. Cecal worm control is necessary to reduce blackhead incidence. Wire or slatted floors reduce exposure.

Good management is the only effective method of preventing this disease since many of the effective drugs used in past years are no longer available commercially. Drugs that reduce the presence of cecal worms, and thus reduce the infection rate, are available but do not have an effect on the Histomonas organism. Refer to the cecal worm section for recommended control practices.