Diarrhea in 2-month-old turkeys: causes, what to do and how to treat

Home growing turkeys can be challenging. Young animals can suffer from various diseases accompanied by diarrhea. On this basis, it is possible to determine the disease in advance, before the diagnosis is made by a doctor. Consider the signs of diarrhea in 2-month-old turkeys, as well as treatment with medicines and folk remedies.

Causes of the disease depending on the color

Change in the normal color of the litter indicates a digestive disorder, as well as a change in its consistency, in this case it becomes liquid. By the color of the diarrhea, you can determine what caused the violation. It can be an infection, helminths, protozoa.

Yellow

Bright yellow stools possibly indicating Newcastle disease. Yellow with green discharge may be due to mycoplasmosis. With Newcastle disease, turkeys become lethargic, fall to their feet, and their temperature rises. Inflammation of the respiratory tract is noted, the birds cough, foamy exudate is released from the nose. The chicks have muscle cramps, tilting the head. Without treatment, death from exhaustion occurs. Newcastle disease is not treated, the diseased livestock is destroyed and disposed of.

Symptoms of mycoplasmosis, in addition to yellow-green diarrhea, include refusal to eat, inactivity, development of respiratory disorders. The disease in young animals is acute and often ends in the death of a bird.

Green

Green frothy diarrhea in turkeys can be a sign of colibacillosis. The disease is manifested by damage not only to the gastrointestinal tract, but also to the lungs, liver, joints, and heart. With colibacillosis, a third of the young can die.Symptoms: liquid droppings, refusal to eat, thirst, blue beak, inflammation of the periorbital tissues, respiratory tract damage.

Mustard

This specific color of feces in turkeys for 2 months occurs with histomonosis. The protozoa infect the bird's liver. Histomonosis in turkeys at 2 months develops acutely. They refuse to feed, almost do not drink, do not move, convulsions are noted. Foamy stools, mustard-colored and smelly.

A characteristic sign, except for diarrhea, is swelling and darkening of the skin on the head of turkeys. Infection with histomonosis can reach 100%, treatment is possible only at the initial stage. Bird mortality from histomonosis is high.

Brown

If there are no alarming symptoms other than brown droppings (the bird is active, eats normally, there are no changes in behavior), then this is most likely food poisoning from inappropriate food.But if the feces are liquid, with blood, this may be a sign of coccidiosis. Symptoms of coccidiosis: birds are thirsty, turkeys have a foamy exudate from the nose, conjunctivitis develops.

White

Light-colored stool is a sign of salmonellosis or paratyphoid. These are bacterial infectious diseases that can destroy the entire population of 2-month-old turkeys. With salmonellosis and paratyphoid stools are white, foamy, fetid. These signs of the disease are easy to identify.

Black

Diarrhea acquires a black color with severe intoxication of the body. This is the result of inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract and bleeding. The black color of the stool is due to the blood that mixes with the stool. In case of intoxication, you need to take emergency measures to save turkeys: remove toxins from the body.

Associated diarrhea symptoms

Diarrhea in 2-month-old turkeys is accompanied by various symptoms, the totality of which can determine diseases or disorders.General signs: refusal of food, increased water intake, depression, apathy. Day-old turkey poults and older adults lose activity, sit ruffled, lower their wings, close their eyes. Because of loose stools, the feathers around the cloaca become dirty. In sick birds, the temperature changes: it either rises or falls.

In case of infectious diseases, there may be damage to the respiratory tract, discharge from the nose, inflammation of the conjunctiva. Turkey poults go into convulsions and fall to their feet.

All these signs point to infection, not food poisoning. This is typical for turkeys of any breed or cross, for example, Big-6.

Rules for treating diarrhea in turkeys at home

Before starting treatment, you need to establish the cause of diarrhea, which caused the disorder: poisoning or pathogens. Further actions will depend on this.

Medicines

Bacterial infections can be treated with antibiotics. Broad-spectrum drugs are prescribed to destroy pathogens of different types. Treatment of viral diseases is more complicated, so it is necessary to vaccinate the bird on time. You can give turkeys drugs such as Metronidazole. This antibacterial and antiparasitic medicine can be effective for histomonosis, trichomoniasis and coccidiosis. The preparation of turkeys should be drunk for 10 days, 3 times a day. Metronidazole is also used for prevention. Avimentronide has a similar effect.

You can do soldering with Levomycetin, Chlortetracycline, Biomycin, Trimerazin. For the treatment of intestinal disorders, Enteroseptol is used, it is given for 10-15 days in a row.This is just an example of drugs, you cannot treat diarrhea and diseases on your own. The veterinarian should select the medicine. Uncontrolled use may worsen the situation.

Folk remedies

You can treat diarrhea in young turkeys with chamomile or nettle decoction, liquid rice porridge, infusion of wormwood, a weak solution of potassium permanganate. Unlike medicines, which can have side effects, folk remedies are completely safe. But you need to remember that they are often ineffective in serious diseases of turkeys, you should not rely on them alone.

Diet and bird care after recovery

Diarrhea in turkeys caused by food poisoning is treated with a starvation diet that lasts 1 day. Water is given freely. Then they give the usual food, but without high-calorie and fatty foods, greens.

After antibiotic therapy, it is necessary to restore the microflora of the gastrointestinal tract.2-month-old turkeys are given vitamin preparations Chiktonik, Trivitamin, Ganasupervit, Nutriselen. For 2 weeks after recovery, you need to monitor the condition of the turkeys, protect them from stress (without the need to change their place of residence, do not transport). Remove bedding, clean feeders and drinkers so that they do not become a breeding ground for pathogens.

If, after the measures taken, the he alth of the turkeys has improved, the diarrhea has stopped, the feces have acquired a normal consistency and color, we can assume that the disease is over.

Prevention measures

Infections on the farm appear with new residents, so you need to buy poultry in proven farms. But do not settle newcomers to the flock, but leave them in quarantine for 2 weeks. Raise young turkeys separately from adults, as adults are more resistant to infection and show symptoms later than poults.

Cleaning and disinfection of the premises, replacement of bedding as soon as it starts to get dirty are the main preventive measures.In a clean poultry house, infections affect the livestock much less frequently. It is necessary to limit the contact of turkeys with rodents, insects that can carry pathogens.

You need to feed turkeys with high-quality food, drink clean water. Clean and disinfect feeders and drinkers, prevent food from souring in them. They should be placed at such a height that the birds do not climb into them with their feet: bacteria often enter the gastrointestinal tract with food or water contaminated with litter. It is recommended to work with the bird in working clothes and shoes that are not used anywhere else. This is to prevent the transfer of pathogens into the house from outside.

Even if diarrhea is not associated with infection by bacteria, it greatly depletes the bird's body and can lead to death. The color of the stool and consistency can determine what caused the disorder. And, based on this, decide on treatment with folk methods or medicines, or on treatment with a starvation diet.

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