Can they be all happy together?

[PetitePlume]

Hello!
I'm planning on getting 25 meat birds and a few layers (max 6) in the spring. I'll be teaming up with a friend for the meat birds so I can go away once in a while. We talked about it during Christmas dinner and why not ad a couple turkeys?
I have space to have it all but thought it would make it much simpler to manage/ clean if they were all together.
Would I have to over protect the eggs? Let's say only once you have laid your egg you can go out? And feed them in there cage only? I assume they would have to be separate so this is when they could get the appropriate kind of grains? Each there specific coop for night time? Would it make sens?

I only have so much fencing on hand and have to do it the cheap way. And the digging part against predator will be SO MUCH time consuming.
How do you go about it?
Why shouldn't I? What could go wrong?

I don't know how I could manage my 25 meat birds but last summer had my laying hens free ranging about half of the day.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge with me!

 

[Welshies]

Is blackhead prevalent in your area? If so, your chickens will die upon turkey contact.
Turkeys don't require much but a roost and a nesting area if you want eggs. They are hardy and many sleep outside. They are also GREAT fliers even with trimmed wings.
If there is no blackhead you should be ok. They would do better with seperate coops, but as long as your turkey hens have their own turkey rooster they'll be fine to share a run area and even food!
However you are correct they have different dietary requirements. Turkeys should be given 26-30% even as adults, whereas chickens only need about 18%.

 

[PetitePlume]

Is blackhead prevalent in your area? If so, your chickens will die upon turkey contact.
Turkeys don't require much but a roost and a nesting area if you want eggs. They are hardy and many sleep outside. They are also GREAT fliers even with trimmed wings.
If there is no blackhead you should be ok. They would do better with seperate coops, but as long as your turkey hens have their own turkey rooster they'll be fine to share a run area and even food!
However you are correct they have different dietary requirements. Turkeys should be given 26-30% even as adults, whereas chickens only need about 18%.

What is the blackhead you are talking about? Is it a bug or something like it? The turkeys would be for Xmas dinner, so no egg I guess.
I'm planning on protecting the chickens from above as well. Obviously I still have a lot of thinking to do about my set-up. And having you all on here makes it MUCH easier for me and will save me many birds down the road I'm sure...

 

[Welshies]

What is the blackhead you are talking about? Is it a bug or something like it? The turkeys would be for Xmas dinner, so no egg I guess.
I'm planning on protecting the chickens from above as well. Obviously I still have a lot of thinking to do about my set-up. And having you all on here makes it MUCH easier for me and will save me many birds down the road I'm sure...

Blackhead is a fatal disease turkeys can carry and spread.
If for dinners, I suggest getting a nest area and letting your hen brood her eggs. Then the supply will be continuous!
Turkeys and chickens can run together during the day time, successfully. Some people do it and some don't.

 

[aart]

You've got that backwards @Welshies.
Blackhead can be carried by chickens and is often fatal to turkeys.

@PetitePlume Checking with your local ag or extension agent can glean info on whether blackhead is prevalent in your area.

Meat birds and layer chicks can be brooded together,
it can actually help make the meaties more active at ranging.
Meat birds (CornishX) are usually slaughtered by 8 weeks.

Turkeys are usually slaughtered at about 4 months,
so most folks get day old poults in July or Aug.

Not sure if you are talking about getting CX or another type of meat bird?

 

[Welshies]

Oh yeah, are you getting heritage or commercial turkeys?

 

[MartinsPoultry]

I have mine mixed and they do pretty well. We have to watch toms and jakes though due to them being stupid and getting their fan in knot and chasing chickens, guinea fowl and geese, once that happens they head to camp one way for fattening up.

My turkey hens love my chickens and try to help brood eggs with them. I have a head hen if you watch her she goes through the flock and grooms everyone fixing out of place feathers and getting food off their beaks. During molt though she got a little or less witchy so we had to place her in a separate pin for a short while until her tude died down.

Honestly i have all of my birds mixed right now, until I can find a better job to build a few more coups and runs. My main flock is home to Geese, Chickens, Ducks both quacking type and Muscovy, Turkeys and Guinea Fowl. And everyone gets along fine. Cuddling when we get a bad wind and protecting eachother when a hawk flies over. My turkeys call the chickens when they see a hawk and it is amazing how fast the chickens run to the barn when a turkey hen is clicking and cooing because of a predatory bird is over head, then the machine gun Guinea fowl sound off as well as the Geese and Roosters. Knock on wood but no losses to hawks even with an open roof run.

My baby run is a mix of bantam and full sized and meat chickens and Guinea fowl. Those Guineas are joining the adults here soon, I have already marked my girls who will be moving into the adults, extra males have one of two options. Roamers or food for my family and I. With enough space for everyone they do well. Turkeys even like to stand in the ducks pool to cool their feet.