adding turkeys to my flock?

[auburnkurls]

I just recently got into raising chickens.  We obtained 5 chicks in the end of May ; 2 sex links, 1 cornish cross "oops" chick, and 2 copper marans.  They live in a small coup in my back yard and have a large 20x25 free range area.  some of my chickes were hatchery chicks, they were supposed to be Golden Sex Links but the hatchery mixed a Cornish Cross in there.  My original intent was backyard chicks for eggs.  With this cornish cross about 3x larger than my other hens, we have decided we will harvest her in a few weeks.
 
Now that hens for food is on the table (so to speak), I am considering obtaining one or two turkey poults.  A farm I know has some 5 week poults.  My chicks are about 5 weeks now.  Would it be ok, should I add 1 or 2 turkey poults to the mix in my backyard?  
 
I have read some of the posts about the pros and cons of keeping them together with the chickens.  I have enough space to create a separate run if needed.   I also have a single car garage that I am converting to an urban barn where I could conceivably house the turkeys.  We would be raising them with the intent of eating them around the holidays.  
 
I also considered moving my coup up next to the garage and creating a "chicken door" so that in the colder winter, the chickens could get into the garage and have a bit more protection from the elements.  I live about 50 miles south of Seattle
 
What are you thoughts/suggestions

 

[Buster52]

Check with your local extension office about blackhead. It is a regional thing, and if it is in your area, you don't want the turks in direct contact with your chickens.

Mine mix and mingle all the time. Right now I'm raising 30 young turkeys and 40 easter egger pullets together in an electronet with no problems.

Be careful, though. Those turkeys will steal your heart.

Blackhead is the only issue I see that might be a factor.

 

[erinszoo]

We raise our turkeys and chickens together too with no problems. Turkeys are very personable and hard to kill when it comes time, much more so than with chickens in my opinion. We have part of a garage converted for use by the chickens, turkeys, and rabbits. It works great. Unless you get a ton of snow your birds probably won't care about the snow and cold much. Ours were wary the first time for about ... oh, maybe ten minutes, lol ... and then they just plowed right in.

 

[KeilFamilyFarm]

We live in Belfair, Wa and raise ours together! We have heard no problems with blackhead in our area.. I say go for it!

 

[erinchelsea]

We raise ours together- but just a warning- ours started escaping the fence at only 5 or so weeks of age! It's not a huge deal to us since we are on a farm, but sounds like maybe you live in town? Our fence is 5' tall cattle panel and they roost on top at night and fly out whenever they want to.

 

[smallbatchfarm]

Bump...

We're about to pick up a pair of year-old Bourbon Reds today. They will eventually be intermingled with our LF chickens- though we will have an area where the chickens can 'escape' to if necessary.

My question is whether we should observe any quarantine times? I don't want to toss everyone together today- they'll have a fence separating them so they can get used to each other, visually, first. But after that, how long should I wait to let everyone together?

Thanks!