Prevent Respiratory Infections

Maintain proper ventilation in the coop without creating drafts, and keep litter dry to prevent ammonia buildup. Respiratory infections in turkeys — including Mycoplasma gallisepticum, Mycoplasma meleagridis, and aspergillosis — are triggered by poor air quality, dampness, and overcrowding stress.

Why It Works

Ammonia concentrations above 25 ppm damage respiratory mucosa, making turkeys vulnerable to opportunistic bacterial and fungal infections. Proper ventilation exchanges stale air while keeping airspeed below 0.5 m/s at bird level to avoid chilling. Dry conditions suppress Aspergillus fumigatus spore production that causes brooder pneumonia in poults.

Tips

• Keep ammonia below 10 ppm — if you can smell it at bird height, ventilation is inadequate
• Quarantine all new birds for a minimum of 30 days before introducing them to the flock
• Avoid mixing turkeys of different ages in the same airspace, as older birds may carry Mycoplasma asymptomatically