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I have two pet female turkeys which are both about seven months old. One is a white, the other bronze. The white turkey has started losing her feathers. She has a bald spot on the back of her neck and is also fairly bald underneath. The bronze doesn't seem to be losing her feathers
I just stopped feeding them turkey grower. They have been eating cracked corn. The white turkey doesn't seem to have lost her appetite and walks around fine
She has stopped laying eggs. The last few had solid yolks I couldn't do anything with. Some had no shell
Her temperament has changed too. Before I could sit and pet her. Now she turns red in the face and wants to bite me
What's causing this?
You probably need to keep them on a commercial feed. Corn alone will not provide all of the nutrients needed and will result in deficiencies and behavioral problems. White turkeys are more susceptible to this than the bronze, although the bronze will probably do this in the future.
Jeff Firman
Animal Sciences
I am a quality control technician at a limestone mill that supplies lime feed to chicken farms. What is the danger of excessive levels of MgO3 in chicken feed?
The use of high magnesium limestone (about 10 percent Mg) or dolomitic limestone is to be discouraged in layer rations due to the high levels of Mg and high use of limestone. Technically death would be very hard to find due to Mg at any level that could practically be fed. However, levels above 0.22 percent Mg or about 0.66 percent MgO3 in the diet will cause reductions in performance. Layers will use as much as 8 percent limestone, so the level of Mg can be calculated for the diet from the amount in the limestone by analysis.
Jeff Firman
Animal Sciences
I purchased ducklings and chicks Easter weekend. The ducklings do not seem to be growing as rapidly as the chicks. The ducklings are being fed regular scratch feed. The chicks are on chick starter. Is there something else we should be giving the ducklings?
I am concerned that your ducks are not getting the proper nutrition for adequate growth and development. Check with your feed store -- here in the Mid-Missouri area, feed stores have access to game bird starter, which would possibly be much closer to the proper protein, vitamin and mineral requirements for these birds.
Jesse Lyons
Animal Sciences
I have 100, week-old, baby chickens. Some have crusty butts. Is this normal or a concern?
"Pasting-up" of the rear of baby chicks (feces sticking and drying below and then sometimes accumulating upwards to even cover the vent) may occur following stress or chilling. This condition also may occur if the young become too hot. Seriousness of this condition depends on the severity and duration of the stress and if the vent area becomes blocked and the chick unable to defecate. In serious cases this accumulation should be removed by carefully softening it with a cloth and warm water. Wear protective gloves and take care in the removal of the crusted material by gently washing and massaging it away. Place the chick into warm comfortable quarters. In fast growing and feathering birds, small accumulations of feces will disappear in a few days as the bird grows and the baby chick down is replaced or dislodged. In moderate cases the pasting only occurs in a relatively small proportion of the birds and is not a serious condition provided the stress condition is not continued.
Jesse Lyons
Animal Sciences
When should chickens be vaccinated and for what diseases? Can vaccinations be combined? How long should one wait before consumption of the eggs or meat after vaccination?
Vaccination schedules vary widely based on whether birds are to be used for meat or eggs, location and whether there has been a problem with the disease or not. For instance, cholera is not vaccinated for unless there is a problem with cholera. In general, a bird's immune system is better developed after two weeks than at hatch, but vaccinations are generally compromises and may be done at the hatchery due to expediency and short life spans. Although I am not aware of any problem with consumption of products after vaccination per se, it is generally not done and commercial companies schedule to avoid such.
Most all commercial birds are vaccinated for Marek's, Newcastle and infectious bronchitis. After those there are a variety of circumstances that will determine other vaccinations and boosters, etc. For a small flock person, the problem is finding vaccines at the appropriate dose sizes, because most are made for 1,000 doses.
Jeff Firman
Animal Sciences
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Updated 3/17/08