Housing question

[beccaWA]

Hi, there.

I was going to build a separate pen for the two Bourbon Reds I have who are about two months old. However, I thought, why not use what I have? I have a large chicken coop and have half a dozen chickens and half dozen ducks in there. The building is about 10x12, so plenty of room.

Could I separate the coop with a wall and keep the two turkeys on the other side, with a separate exit to a separate pen? (I worry a bit about blackhead, and also the turkeys actually getting along with the others when they're bigger). There is actually a large fenced area off the coop that I could jury rig and make the fence way taller for the turkeys. The fence is about four feet, but I can attach deer fence to the top of it I think.

Would the turkeys just being in the same building with the chickens cause a risk of blackhead, even with a separation wall? It's the cheapest/easier way I can think of to house/contain all the birds without building a separate structure or fence.

Thanks!

 

[feedman77]

You will have blackhead in your soil or you wont. If you have it if the turkeys cross any ground where the chickens and ducks have been they are succeptible.

I would say your plan will work. I don't clip wings but mine can clear a 6 ft fence no problem.

 

[beccaWA]

Thanks! It is a bit ambitious for me to not just let them in with the other fowl, but I really like these turkeys so far and would like to breed them and raise some poults of their own. I know many people around here who keep the birds all together, so I think I'll try the coop separation and separate pen. Even though the chickens and ducks do go on that ground, it's not often and I can hope for the best.

Thanks again!