Chickens are mean to my turkeys

[Jolyn]

I have ten one year old hens in a coop....I have two turkeys that are about five or so weeks old. They are growing sooooooooooo fast. I put them in a cage outside in the hen run. They have been out there for over a week. I thought my hens would be use to them by now but whenever the turkeys get out they peck at them horribly and chase them.

How long does it take before you can add turkeys in with the hens?

 

[Gloria]

Good question! Anybody have the answer to this one?

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

5 week old poults and year old chicken hens is a big size difference, plus it's 10 to 2. The hens will chase them, they need to be at least equal size and equal numbers for them to mix.

Steve in NC

 

[Gloria]

Quote:
Steve, are you saying I have to get 17 more turkeys before I can add my 2 turkeys to the hen house which has 19 chickens in it?

My 2 BR's will be 8 weeks on Saturday.

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

No I'm not saying that at all. I just know what happens when you add new birds to an established flock and the newcomers are smaller and out numbered.

Steve

 

[Gloria]

Okay, so just wait until they are about the same size then, right? Mine are about to go out to the coop in their brooder for awhile. Probably 2 or 3 more weeks. They should be fine by then right?