By Elena Johnson CVC AC
Turkeys have different nutritional requirements than chickens and usually should be kept separate from chickens because of this and diseases such as Black Head (Histomoniasis) which is usually fatal in young poults. Chickens can serve as the host for the cecal worm and therefore the Histomonas parasite. There is no treatment for Black Head in the United States.
Turkeys from hatch to 8 weeks should be fed a Turkey or Game Bird starter feed that is 28-30% protein. At 8 weeks poults can be switched to Game Bird Flight Conditioner 19% or Flock Raiser that is 20% which they can stay on through adulthood. Hens should be given Oyster Shell starting at the age of 30 weeks.
There are also two types of Mycoplasma which can infect chickens and turkeys. M. gallisepticum (MG) causes respiratory disease and occasionally synovitis (infection of the leg joint). M.synoviae (MS) primarily causes synovitis and occasionally respiratory disease. Treatment with antibiotics can reduce the severity of the symptoms and death rate, however respiratory disease in poultry is not curable and relapses often occur.
Mycoplasma can be vertically transmitted from the hen, so hatching poults from infected hens will result in infected young Turkeys. Testing should be done to confirm the Mycoplasma diagnosis.
Coccidiosis is caused by various species of Eimeria, a protozoal parasite. There are 7 different species that are known to infect turkeys, however only 4 are considered capable of causing clinical disease. Coccidia are host-species specific, the coccidia that infects turkeys will not infect chickens and visa versa. There are also fewer medications approved for coccidia treatment for turkeys and it’s best to have a lab or veterinarian confirm the diagnosis.
References:
https://extension.psu.edu/backyard-turkey-health
https://poultrykeeper.com/keeping-turkeys/beginners-guide-to-keeping-turkeys/
**The Vet Corner groups encourage members to establish a relationship with their local veterinarian, don’t wait until an emergency.**
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