Birds of A feather Should Not Flock Together!
With the new season headed our way and planning for the growing season ahead in full swing, bird housing and rearing practices need to be a part of the considerations. One of the practices that we often see is folks deciding that they can and should house all their birds together, specifically Turkeys and Chickens. Although this may seem like a great idea that saves time and space there are many challenges, one of which is often overlooked or in many cases unknown to the raiser. In the last 2-3 years we have seen an increase (albeit small) in the occurrence of Black Head disease. It is important that those choosing to raise both chickens and turkeys understand and recognize the dangers in housing these 2 species of foul together. Bottom line…they need their own space.
Blackhead Disease is incurable and devastating to both small and large flocks of turkeys if contracted. It is also a disease/infection that is untreatable and you will often not be able to tell the animal is sick until it is on its last legs.
It is highly recommended that Turkeys be housed separately from Chickens to prevent the transmission of the protozoa that causes this disease in Turkeys.
What is Black Head Disease? According to the FDA –
“Blackhead disease (histomoniasis) is an important poultry disease that affects turkeys, chickens, and game birds such as partridges, pheasants, and quail. The disease is caused by the protozoa Histomonas meleagridis, tiny, single-celled organisms that are spread to the bird by the roundworm Heterakis gallinarum.”
Healthy birds become infected when they eat food, invertebrates (such as earthworms), or bird droppings that are contaminated with the protozoa. Direct bird-to-bird transmission can also occur within a flock. Because chickens, partridges, and pheasants commonly have the roundworm in their intestines, they often are the source of the protozoal infection for other birds.
Birds with blackhead disease are usually listless and have drooping wings, unkempt feathers, and yellow droppings. Typically, the cecum and liver of an infected bird will become inflamed and develop ulcers. Young birds become sick quickly and usually die within a few days after signs appear. The disease develops more slowly in older birds and they often become emaciated and may eventually die.
Turkeys are highly susceptible to blackhead disease. Once a turkey flock has been infected, 70 to 100% of the birds may die. In one survey, U.S. turkey industry professionals reported at least 50 outbreaks of the disease each year since 2009.1 Blackhead disease is less severe in chickens but can lead to poor health and reduced egg production.”
- For the full article from the FDA please visit -
- For additional information and a fact sheet visit Penn Vet -
