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Can you keep a turkey in the same area as chickens?
In general turkeys and chickens should not be kept together. The reason for this is that each species will be affected by diseases differently. While a certain disease may not really affect chickens negatively, they may carry and shed the disease. This disease may affect a turkey negatively however.
Jeff Firman
Animal Sciences
For the past couple of weeks our turkey has had clear drainage coming from his nostrils, and now his eye and side of his head are swollen. Could he have a sinus infection?
It sounds like your bird has some form of sinusitis, probably bacterial. In general it is very difficult to diagnose diseases of birds without an autopsy, I would try to give a broad spectrum antibiotic with the choice based on what you have available at the local farm store. Something injectable would be fine since you only have one bird and you can inject into the thigh or breast.
Jeff Firman
Animal Sciences
Has there been a recent outbreak of low pathogenic avian influenza in Virginia and other states causing Japan to cut its imports of fowl from the U.S.?
Avian influenza (AI) has been the most prominent of diseases that affect the poultry industry and has resulted in the death of millions of birds. In the US we have relatively good biosecurity and a regulated large scale industry. While the losses in the US appear large they are relatively small in the scheme of the industry, however other areas such as Hong Kong have been basically devastated by AI. There is currently a low path variety of AI in Virginia and in the recent past they have found a similar strain in Pennsylvania and Maine I believe, but it appears to be localized
Jeff Firman
Animal Sciences
What is the rooster to hen ratio in a flock of 100 nonsegregated females to maintain a high fertility rate for eggs to be used for incubation?
Age, breed, health, environmental conditions, vigor and body condition, of both the male and the female affect the ratio.
Normal ratio recommendations for medium to heavy breed hens in the first year of lay and with roosters of similar age and breed: would be one male to 10 to 15 femalesor about 10 breeding males per 100 heavy hens. It works well to select good roosters during brooding age and rear them with the females.
For light breeds such as Leghorns the normal ratio would be one male to each 14 to 20 females. This ratio would result in about seven breeding males per 100 light breed hens.
Certain males may also be infertile so, smaller groups of hens may require a higher density ratio of roosters. Fertility late in the laying season may be improved by the introduction of fresh, younger, breeding roosters. A word of caution, be careful when introducing new birds into a flock.
Jesse Lyons
Animal Sciences
I raise cranberry beans and pigeon peas. Could I use geese for weeding these crops, or would they eat them like weeds?
I would suggest that you do a limited test on these specific plants before committing to a large scale application. Reviewing our files, I have not found any specific reference to the plants you ask about, however a couple guidelines would be:
Geese will require water and other care and management before, during and following the weeding season.
Jesse Lyons
Animal Sciences
Updated 8/4/05