Difference between bronze and double breasted bronze turkeys? - Page 2

Dude.........DUUUDE...I am like sooo stoned right now....ahaawha

Hi... I have a question for you. Do you raise your turkeys with your chickens? or do you keep them separate. I know there is a concern about blackhead disease... but it you get them from a disease free breeder and free range them, some people say it's pretty safe. Opinions? Experience? Thanks!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trufflelady 

Hi... I have a question for you. Do you raise your turkeys with your chickens? or do you keep them separate. I know there is a concern about blackhead disease... but it you get them from a disease free breeder and free range them, some people say it's pretty safe. Opinions? Experience? Thanks!

I keep mine with the chickens. Blackhead disease from what Ive read rears its ugly head when its wet and dirty(Fecal Waste) I got my Turkeys from Ideal poultry, The are a reputable hatchery and I do free range all my birds all day everyday. These are my first Turkeys ever and so far they have been very easy to raise. They are 7 or 8 weeks old. they are healthy and happy and starting to strut and get all red faced. I like them better than my chickens, but please don't tell them.

Thanks for the reassurance... I came to that conclusion, too.  We picked up our two Bronze (don't know if they are broad breasted or just bronze) and one Bourbon Red from Wilco yesterday afternoon and will brood them for a bit until they are the same size as the 4 week old chicks we have.  I was only going to get the two Bronze... but these three were the last ones left and I didn't have the heart to leave that poor Bourbon alone in the trough!  She is so tiny!  Add to that they told me if I took all three, they would give me 1/2 price on them all... and I caved. My husband told me he knew going in we would end up with more than I though we would get... he knows me, I guess! I will post pix as soon as I can. Thanks again!

I don't know where you live but check with others in the area that have chickens and turkeys, and/or you can check with the local Dept of Ag to see if blackhead (histomomiasis) is a problem in your area.  I don't think it's related to living conditions (unless becasuse that can challenge the immune systom).  Histomomiasis is a protozoa often carried by the cecal worm.  Wild Turkeys can get it too.  It can be carried by earthworms.  If you don't have it there, great.  If you do, a regular worming schedule will help.   

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frosty 

I don't know where you live but check with others in the area that have chickens and turkeys, and/or you can check with the local Dept of Ag to see if blackhead (histomomiasis) is a problem in your area.  I don't think it's related to living conditions (unless becasuse that can challenge the immune systom).  Histomomiasis is a protozoa often carried by the cecal worm.  Wild Turkeys can get it too.  It can be carried by earthworms.  If you don't have it there, great.  If you do, a regular worming schedule will help.   

Yep, your right and I checked. We don't have a blackhead problem here. From what Ive read The eggs of the cecal worm are in the fecal matter. Keep the fecal matter cleaned up will reduce blackhead. Earth worms eat these eggs as well and can stay viable for up to 4 years. During wet conditions the worms come to the top and are eaten by the turkeys and infecting them. So keeping a clean dry habitat is key to prevention of blackhead disease.