Are turkeys ok with my roo?

[Chicken-lovebirdchihuahua]

I might get poults in the spring will they get in fights with my rooster or will they scare him what will happen?

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Keeping Turkeys and chickens together can have special concerns... like black head disease. I have seen where toms try to mate and injure hens and also where toms will beat up roosters very badly. But I've also seen lot's of people who have kept them together. I have no experience with turkeys, so just relaying what I've seen.

Sounds like you've got bitten by the chicken math bug! I see you talking about guineas to. My suggestion is slow your roll and do/add one species at a time. If anyone starts going downhill it can put a huge damper on your joy... and it happens.

Hope your adventure is awesome!

 

[R2elk]

I might get poults in the spring will they get in fights with my rooster or will they scare him what will happen?

Only time will tell. Part of it depends on the amount of room you will be providing for the turkeys. Turkeys require a lot more personal space than do chickens.

With my turkeys the hens are the ones that are more likely to take issue with roosters. Because mine have lots of room (the run is 50'x100') the roosters can outrun the turkey hens plus there are lots of obstacles they can use to hide in or make it difficult for them to be reached.

Other people have reported that their turkeys (especially the youngsters) can be trouble makers and can kill chickens.

Until your poults are nearly grown, you probably won't know for sure what is going to happen. I recommend not letting your poults imprint on the chickens so that once they are mature they will know that there is a difference between them and chickens. There is also the issue of blackhead which if it is your area can be spread to the turkeys by the chickens. If blackhead is not an issue in your area then it is just the relation between the chickens and turkeys that can cause concern.

 

[Chicken-lovebirdchihuahua]

Thanks wow I never would have thought about that you where so helpful

 

[hillbillyreefer]

I’ve had turkeys and chickens mix together for a few years. The original chicks were brought in at the same time, brooded together and kept together until they were processed or succumbed to old age. A few outside birds of of each species and gender were added occasionally. I never had any trouble. The original chickens were RIRxRed Rock crosses, the turkeys were orlopp bronze. After that some Jersey Giants were added, a pair of Ridley Bronze turkeys. Then crosses from several eggs I hatched turkey and chicken, male/female, the pen was like the U.N. but without all of the war.

A long story short yes you can keep both together.

 

[sourland]

Bottom line - sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. You have been provided excellent information by R2elk and Eggsited.

 

[Chicken-lovebirdchihuahua]

Thanks everyone you're so helpful

 

[silky ma]

My silkies raised the poults and my silkie roos are very payient with them- a few times my top roo put them in their place.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

And I will add that I've had turkeys kill chickens, so I already recommend keeping them separately. You just never know.

 

[Chicken-lovebirdchihuahua]

Thank you everyone everyone's awnser was so great! I got my poults it was actually a surprise for Christmas