Chickens and turkeys?

[ironsightfarm]

I've been debating adding turkey hens to my flock, but I have read so many conflicting things about keeping turkeys and chickens together - I do know that they were kept together without issue at the farm I worked at previously, but when it comes to my own flock I'm a little gun shy!

Anyone out there have tips or experiences to share? Recommended care or husbandry? Advice to avoid the idea all together? Any serious issues with housing the two together and I'll pass on the new flock members, but I'd love to add some hens if it can be done safely for all involved

Thanks in advance for the help!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I personally wouldn't mix the species. I've had turkeys kill a chicken, and they will harass and chase them when out of their pen. Not always, but enough to make me grateful the turkeys have their own shed and run.

 

[LeNeveu2]

I'm doing it. I have 15 chicks and 10 turkeys together they are currently 2 day old right now.

 

[Wolfefarmyard]

I have kept both chickens and turkeys at the same time. My opinion is that free ranging them together can work well but I would not keep them confined in the same coop.

 

[aart]

I personally wouldn't mix the species. I've had turkeys kill a chicken, and they will harass and chase them when out of their pen. Not always, but enough to make me grateful the turkeys have their own shed and run.

Plus there's the Black Head disease aspect...
...chickens can carry it without symptoms but it can kill turkeys.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Blackhead will kill turkeys but chickens usually survive it but remain carriers. If (If is a big word in the English language) if your chickens have blackhead they will give it to the turkeys and kill them. If your chickens do not have blackhead they won't. Something else to think about, if you have a mixed chicken-turkey flock would you want to integrate chickens from an outside source. They might be carrying blackhead.

I raised a Midget White turkey with my flock with no serious issues. He turned out to be a Tom, hatched him in March and ate him for Thanksgiving. The most notable thing is that he could really fly, hard to keep him penned.

This was a single tom, not hens, so I have no experience with that.

 

[ironsightfarm]

Thanks so much for everyone's replies!

We have a good sized coop and run, but it seems like the negatives outweigh the positives regardless of space. Blackhead is a huge concern, too. Think I'm going to just continue to get overly excited when the wild turkeys visit our yard

 

[MickWithChicks]

I've had two turkey hens housed with my 20ish chickens for almost two years now.

The only issue I've had is when someone dumped a rooster on our property. He did not get along with the turkeys and they ended up attacking him and essentially stripping him of his comb. We kept the rooster and they get along great now a year later, but your mileage may vary.

My turkeys hang out with the chickens all day. The only fighting they do is with eachother--they love a tussle to see who is going to be top bird that season. My coop and run are quite large, and they free-range from about midday onwards.

I like a mixed flock. If you have the space for them, you don't have/want a rooster, and you're OK with their excellent flying abililties, I'd absolutely recommend it.

 

[LeNeveu2]

My brood mixed flock. 14 chickens and 7 turkeys

 

[ironsightfarm]

I've had two turkey hens housed with my 20ish chickens for almost two years now.

The only issue I've had is when someone dumped a rooster on our property. He did not get along with the turkeys and they ended up attacking him and essentially stripping him of his comb. We kept the rooster and they get along great now a year later, but your mileage may vary.

My turkeys hang out with the chickens all day. The only fighting they do is with eachother--they love a tussle to see who is going to be top bird that season. My coop and run are quite large, and they free-range from about midday onwards.

I like a mixed flock. If you have the space for them, you don't have/want a rooster, and you're OK with their excellent flying abililties, I'd absolutely recommend it.

Well this changes things...I'm so conflicted!

You house them together at night as well? We aren't allowed to have roos where we are (we're rural but still considered residential unfortunately) so that part isn't an issue.