Chickens and Turkeys?

[MarkR]

Okay turkey people,

I've raised chickens practically my whole life. Turkeys, no. Let's say I wanted to get a start. Do I need new facilities or are they okay together?

 

[Cats Critters]

Here is some links with the same questions:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=158142
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=145513

 

[Harp Turkey Ranch]

yes they will be fine together. Poults need every thing the chicks need when young they just grow faster and bigger and need more space faster. and they can be very fragile.

 

[deerman]

Best if not mixed, turkey need a 24% to 28% feed, best raised on wire floor. Plus chickens can carry disease that harm turkey, no harm to the chickens.

Can be done, but those that raise poults on the ground and around chicken do lose some.

Raised 100s last year, didnt lose any that i raised on wire floors,with Medicated feed.

 

[LoveMyBirds]

Quote:
I should have saved the article.. Search for Turkey..

Find the story from an old timer after years of raising turkeys with success with medicated feed..

You'll read all kinds of suggestions on this site to NOT use Medicated feed.

After losing 8 of my 15 last year,, I started using medicated feed and didn't lose any more...

I'll start out this year with medicated feed (if they hatch),

and see if that works better or if they just quit dying last year....

 

[pdpatch]

Turkey chicks can be problematic to get started.

So it's best to start them in separate brooders/pens and keep them separate for at least the first 7 weeks. For turkeys 7 weeks is the time it takes for there emuine system to develop.

During this period they have different nutritional requirements, it's not only the amount of protein but the trace minerals in there feed.

Generally those that free range or have them on grass are the ones that successfully raise them together.

For use we keep them in seperate brooders and pens, but we do let them out together to eat grass at the same time.

Tom

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

deleted

 

[MarkR]

Thanks everyone! Lots of information out there. . . more than I ever dreamed. Now to sort it all out.

 

[Picco]

I raise mine together from start to finish and have never had problems. Turkeys are more susceptible to disease but as long as everything is clean and dry they should be fine. I always clean my water jars with hot soap and water every other day when they are really young.