Blackhead

[MrPepers]

I am going to be getting a few turkeys next year and adding them to my 7 chickens and 3 guinea fowl. I've heard that it is very easy for turkeys to get blackhead when they are with chickens. I haven't been able to find any reports of blackhead in my county, but, if the turkeys do happen to get blackhead, how can I tell if they have it and how do I treat it?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I would recommend you don't house your turkeys with the other species, they are behaviorally incompatible beyond the risk of blackhead. It's best to give them their own shed and run. I have had turkeys kill chickens.

 

[MrPepers]

Even if they are royal palm turkeys? Because they are smaller.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I only keep heritage varieties, which includes palms. Turkeys, especially when younger are prone to shenanigans, and harassing other birds. Once a turkey makes up it's mind about something, like chasing a chicken it will continue to do it for a very long time. Turkeys are much bigger and stronger than chickens so the chicken will always lose out, especially if they can't escape. It will be okay until it's not, than you will have dead chickens.

Some do it, but I would never combine them again, it was a hard learned lesson finding a rooster with his scalp ripped open, and his brain exposed, while 2 toms are repeatedly jumping on him.

Mine now free range in the same area as chickens, but my chickens can escape, and the turkeys get locked back up after a while.

As far as blackhead you won't know it's in your soil until you try turkeys. They will get sick and lethargic, sometimes the head darkens, there will be high mortality rates, I don't know about treatment because I haven't looked into it.

 

[MrPepers]

Thanks for the help! I guess I'll hold off on the turkeys till I can make a pen for them. I can't let them free range do to predators, so how large of a pen do you think 3 royal palms (a tom and 2 hens) would need?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I don't want to talk you out of them, turkeys are certainly more personable birds with big personalities. They are also emotional birds that sometimes don't play well with others. I just wanted to share my experiences with mixing them together so you know what could happen. It's probably not always a problem, but it's always a possibility.

 

[MrPepers]

I think I will just hold off until I can build them a separate pen.

 

[casportpony]

@MrPepers , where do you live?