Raising Turkeys with Chickens longterm, blackleg or blackhead disease inevitable? Can it be done suc

[therisingers]

We bought 4 of the broad breasted white turkeys and they are about 8 weeks old now and are doing fine. I put them in with the chickens and ducks yesterday and they are in the tractor now, too and are adjusting well. I've heard that they will be ok for about a year and THEN would get blackleg disease? Is that true? Have ANY of you raised chickens and turkeys together for any length of time and do they automatically get it? I would like to raise them together but won't try to ever breed any if they are just going to die. These are simply meat ones and we were told that they would be ok until we harvest them. Any ideas or thoughts? I would REALLY like to know because I would LIKE to raise some of them later (Royal Palms) but I don't want to have to keep them separate. How did they do it back in the old days? My grandparents had them together. Any thoughts? Thank you in advance! Sharlene

 

[frank53061]

Black leg is in your area or its not check with your State Agri agency.
I purposely Incubated Chic's from my flock to raise with the Bourbon Reds that I ordered and are 12 weeks old now and are doing great together so far.
Black leg is spread from adult birds to turkeys think of it this way I incubated my Chic's at home there is not black leg in the Chic's cant be spread from chicken to egg and my turkeys were clean from the hatchery.

The best chance of not getting black leg is being as far away from poultry producers and screening any chickens that may be in contact with your turkeys and crossing your fingers after that.
Just lately I have allowed my turkeys to free range with my older chickens and 2 weeks has past and no sick turkeys.

I hope this helps you.

 

[therisingers]

Thank you! VERY informative. We live not too far from you I'd imagine. North of B-town, MO. I will do what you said and see how it goes. Thanks again! Sharlene

 

[animalsRawesome]

My friend has a couple turkeys. They live with her 20 plus chickens, and have had no problems. They have been together for the past five or so years. HOWEVER, they are in a HUGE pen, maybe 1/2 and acre, so they don't have to sit in each other's poop all day. I'm sure that would make a difference if they were in close-quarters...

 

[frank53061]

Best of luck.

Let me know how things go.

 

[therisingers]

Thank you! Had a little scare today with one of the turkeys. They are still pretty young but old enough to be outside. It's hot here and they are feathered and are as big as the chickens and as tall as the ducks and they have been fine. Until today. ONE of them was acting weird and seemed like he couldn't swallow! Then my son (he's 29 and builds everything around here and is my "poultry expert", as in he told me to find a good forum and I found you guys!) picked it up and felt it's throat and it was FULL and caked with feed and it took us the better part of an HOUR to continue to massage it's throat and worked the food down FOR it and kept dripping some water into it's mouth and it would swallow but make no sound and wasn't getting very far for quite some time. It WAS breathing and it's heart was beating like crazy but it's mouth was open and you could SEE feed in it's mouth and it really couldn't swallow at ALL. It wasn't smart enough to get to the water in the bigger pen to drink so it got dry chick feed caked into it's throat.....

SO, after my son turned it upside down once and then back upright again and he kept massaging it's throat and kept dripping water into it's mouth and it FINALLY went down and he FINALLY was swallowing normally and started making his sound again and immediately went to scratching for food as soon as we put him back down....Whew....I'm glad that we caught it in time and glad that we were able to help it get the food down. Now I will know to watch for them to get their feed caked in their throat! Now that one is gentle and was letting us pick it up after that! It would've died if we hadn't noticed it's mouth open and it struggling.....Hopefully now it will figure out to DRINK with it's food....

Thank all of you for your feedback and ideas. I feel confident now that it's not automatic with the blackleg/head disease and we might try the Royal Palm's next year....

 

[ivan3]

Blackleg is a disease of cattle caused by Clostridium c. (bacteria). `Blackhead' is the vernacular for Histomoniasis (g./m.) a disease of gallinaceous birds (some more prone to become symptomatic than others) caused by a protozoan (Histomonas meleagridis). Disease cycle: From: http://www.nwhc.usgs.gov/publications/field_manual/ (chap. 35). An excellent (free to download) reference. Also, a good thread to start with (follow links in thread): https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...eath-but-black-head-questions/10#post_6772450 A well managed run (yearly liming/plenty of sand and good drainage), regular worming schedule for flocks and most common sources can be minimized. Many members have kept turkeys and chickens in adjacent runs, same range, with no problems. However, the more humid and warm the climate, along with any reports of the disease in your region (check with DNR/Vet School/State Vet/Ag agent) should cause one to plan accordingly. Yellow droppings are not always a definitive diagnostic (anything from a broody hen eating one of her bad eggs in the evening then squirting it out the next morning, or some other disease/toxin: http://albc-usa.org/documents/turkeymanual/ALBCturkey-5.pdf ).

 

[therisingers]

Wow, what an informative post and I SO appreciate it! Thank you!!!

 

[frank53061]

Its always good not to panic level heads prevail and its also good idea to watch and pay attention for any thing out of the norm.

great catch.

 

[therisingers]

Oh it almost got to that point again today and my 12 year old caught it and picked it up and started rubbing it's throat and it swallowed HARD and then she put it down and it got a drink. LOL. Silly turkey! I hope they figure it out before long. One of these times we might not see it in time....Thanks! Sharlene