Turkey Diseases: A Comprehensive Guide to Keeping Your Flock Healthy

Turkeys are susceptible to a variety of diseases some of which can be fatal. As a responsible turkey owner it’s crucial to understand the common health threats your birds face and how to prevent them. This guide will delve into the most prevalent turkey diseases, their symptoms, treatment options, and preventive measures.

Worms: The Tiny Troublemakers

Worms are a common problem in turkeys, affecting both intestinal and respiratory systems. Here’s a breakdown of the different types of worms and their impact:

  • Capillaria (Hairworm): These are the smallest worms, residing in the digestive tract and causing the most harm.
  • Ascaridia: These are the largest worms, inhabiting the small intestine but causing moderate damage.
  • Heterakis: These small worms live in the caecum (blind gut) and carry “Blackhead,” a parasite causing liver damage and often death.

Symptoms:

  • Weight loss
  • Dullness
  • Lack of egg production
  • Mild diarrhea

Diagnosis:

  • Faecal worm egg counts

Treatment:

  • Flubenvet (only licensed wormer for turkeys)

Prevention:

  • Routine worming with Flubenvet every 10 weeks
  • Sample droppings every 10 weeks to avoid unnecessary worming
  • Avoid ranging turkeys with chickens or on chicken-grazed pasture

Important Note: Contrary to popular belief, free-range turkeys are not immune to worms. Housed flocks are also at risk.

Blackhead: A Deadly Threat

Blackhead is caused by a parasite carried by the Heterakis worm. It affects turkeys, chickens, and peafowl, but turkeys are the most vulnerable. The parasite burrows into the caecum, causing inflammation and diarrhea. It then migrates to the liver, causing severe damage and often death.

Symptoms:

  • Sudden death
  • Dullness
  • Bright yellow diarrhea
  • Blackhead (rare)

Diagnosis:

  • Post-mortem examination

Treatment:

  • Antibiotics to control secondary infections
  • Worming to kill Heterakis worms

Prevention:

  • Regular worming
  • Never range turkeys with chickens or on chicken-grazed pasture

Lameness: A Sign of Trouble

Lameness in turkeys is often caused by Mycoplasma infection, transmitted through air, eggs, and mating. It can cause swollen leg joints and respiratory disease.

Symptoms:

  • Lameness
  • Swollen joints
  • Sneezing
  • Swollen sinuses
  • Dullness

Diagnosis:

  • Blood tests or PCR testing

Treatment:

  • Antibiotics (temporary improvement, not permanent cure)

Prevention:

  • Purchase poults from reputable suppliers
  • Keep wild birds away
  • Implement a good cleaning regime between batches

Haemorrhagic Enteritis: A Bloody Affair

This disease, primarily affecting young turkeys (6-12 weeks), is caused by an Adenovirus. It causes bloody diarrhea and, if untreated, death.

Symptoms:

  • Dullness
  • Bloody diarrhea
  • Sudden death

Diagnosis:

  • Blood testing

Treatment:

  • Antibiotics to control secondary infections

Prevention:

  • Good cleaning regime between batches
  • Vaccination

Respiratory Disease: A Breathing Problem

Mycoplasma and Avian RhinoTracheitis virus (ART) are the main culprits behind respiratory disease in turkeys.

Symptoms:

  • Sneezing/snicking
  • Watery eyes
  • Nasal discharge
  • Lameness/swollen joints

Treatment:

  • Antibiotics for severe cases

Prevention:

  • Purchase poults from reputable suppliers
  • Vaccination against ART/TRT
  • Ensure good ventilation

Coccidiosis: A Parasitic Invasion

This disease is caused by a single-celled parasite that damages the intestinal wall, leading to weight loss and diarrhea.

Symptoms:

  • Dull, hunched birds with ruffled feathers
  • Sudden death
  • Diarrhea (often watery with mucus)

Diagnosis:

  • Faecal testing or post-mortem examination

Treatment:

  • Anticoccidial agents (Amprolium or Baycox)
  • Antibiotics to control secondary infections

Prevention:

  • Good cleaning regime between batches
  • Use of licensed anti-coccidial disinfectants
  • Avoid feeding coccidiostats to older turkeys

Diarrhea: A Sign of Multiple Issues

Diarrhea in turkeys can be caused by various factors, including bacteria, viruses, coccidiosis, poor-quality feed, and dirty drinking water.

Symptoms:

  • Wet litter
  • Loose droppings
  • Weight loss
  • Dull, hunched birds with ruffled feathers
  • Pasted vents

Treatment:

  • Consult your vet or send faecal samples for diagnosis
  • Antibiotics for severe infections
  • Water samples to check for bacteria

Prevention:

  • Ensure clean, dry feed
  • Provide clean drinking water
  • Keep bedding clean and dry
  • Consider organic acids and probiotics

Seed Feed Weed: A Natural Approach

This approach aims to improve the gut environment of turkeys by encouraging “friendly” bacteria and discouraging “harmful” ones. It involves:

  • Seeding the intestine with natural bacteria from turkeys
  • Feeding and weeding the bacteria with short-chain fatty acids

Salmonella: A Human Health Concern

Salmonella infections are not harmful to turkeys but pose a significant risk to human health. Testing is required for breeding and meat turkeys in flocks over 250 birds.

Beak Treating: A Necessary Procedure

Beak treatment is necessary in some cases and must be performed by a trained operator before the poults are 21 days old. Pain relief can be provided during the procedure.

Aortic Rupture: A Sudden Threat

Fast-growing stags can suffer from a tear in the main blood vessel, leading to sudden death. Management advice can be provided to slow growth rates and reduce the risk.

Erysipelas: A Bacterial Infection

Erysipelas, a soil-borne bacteria, can enter the bloodstream through wounds. It can cause sudden death, poor growth, and lameness.

Symptoms:

  • Lameness
  • Sudden death
  • Hunched poults with ruffled feathers

Diagnosis:

  • Post-mortem examination

Treatment:

  • Antibiotics

Prevention:

  • Vaccination
  • Avoid keeping poultry on ground where pigs have been

By understanding the common turkey diseases, their symptoms, and preventive measures, you can ensure the health and well-being of your flock. Regular checkups, proper hygiene, and vaccination are crucial for maintaining a healthy turkey population. If you suspect any health issues, consult your veterinarian immediately.

Reduce your exposure to germs

Follow these tips to avoid getting sick or spreading illness to others while traveling:

  • Wash your hands often, especially before eating.
  • If water and soap aren’t readily available, wash your hands with hand sanitizer (which should contain at least 80% alcohol).
  • Don’t touch your eyes, nose, or mouth. Ensure that your hands are clean before touching your face.
  • When you cough or sneeze, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve—not your hands.
  • Try to avoid contact with people who are sick.
  • If you’re sick, avoid going to the doctor and stay at home or in your hotel room.

Keep away from animals

The majority of animals stay away from people, but if they feel threatened, are defending their young or territory, are hurt, or are ill, they may attack. Animal bites and scratches can lead to serious diseases such as rabies.

Follow these tips to protect yourself:

  • Never feed or handle any animals you don’t know.
  • Keep animals away from open wounds, and avoid getting animal saliva in your mouth or eyes.
  • Avoid rodents and their urine and feces.
  • Pets traveling should be closely monitored and not permitted to interact with local wildlife.
  • Seek medical attention right away if you awaken in a room containing a bat. Bat bites may be hard to see.

While all animals can be dangerous, you should exercise particular caution when around dogs, bats, monkeys, sea creatures like jellyfish, and snakes. If you are bitten or scratched by an animal, immediately:

  • Wash the wound with soap and clean water.
  • Go to a doctor right away.
  • When you return to the US, let your doctor know about your injury.

Consider buying medical evacuation insurance. Rabies is a fatal illness that needs to be treated right away; however, in certain places, treatment may not be available.

Blackhead Disease Research

FAQ

What is the biggest health issue in turkey?

Lower back disorders (lumbago, herniated disc, other back defections) ranked first among the main diseases and health problems that had been declared by individuals of both genders in the last 12 months in Turkey in 2022.

What is the number one cause of death in turkey?

Leading causes of death include major vascular diseases (ischaemic heart disease, stroke) causing 35-38% of deaths, chronic obstructive lung disease and lung cancer in men, but also perinatal causes, lower respiratory infections and diarrhoeal diseases.

What disease do turkeys carry?

Some common infectious diseases include avian pox, Lymphoproliferative neoplasms (transmissible tumors), infectious sinusitis and histomoniasis (blackhead disease). Most of these are transmitted to wild turkeys from domestic poultry sources.

What is the most common disease syndrome in wild turkeys?

Affected turkeys are sometimes emaciated. Though avian pox is probably the most common disease affecting wild turkeys, it is not a major threat to the population. Other viral diseases that have been noted in wild turkeys include western equine encephalitis, St.

Are there diseases & problems in turkeys?

But there are some diseases and problems in turkeys. They are like other poultry birds such as chickens and susceptible to diseases and other problems. Whether you raise turkeys as pets, for meat or as a breeding flock, you should be aware of turkey diseases and problems for avoiding losses and heartbreak of losing your flock.

What are the health benefits of ground turkey?

Ground turkey has multiple benefits. It is a good source of minerals, and B vitamins, rich in proteins, low in fat and it is lower in calories than common turkey.

Can turkeys get Marek’s disease?

Marek’s Disease Marek’s Disease is a very prevalent worldwide herpes virus. It is an in- duced tumor disease of all types of chickens. The virus produces dis- ease in turkeys, quail, and pheas- ants. Characteristics of Marek’s Disease in turkeys are similar to but more subdued than in chickens and natural outbreaks are rare.

What are the most common causes of mortality in Turkey?

The three most common causes of mortality in the country are cardiovascular diseases (35.4%), cancer (15.2%), respiratory diseases (13.5%). Healthcare in Turkey is majorly provided by Ministry of Health and some private health institutions. The Turkish Public Health Association is accountable for the primary healthcare delivery in Turkey.

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