First Timer

[bigredfeather]

This is my first attempt to raise turkeys. I received 9 poults(3 Blue Slate, 3 Bourbon Reds, and 3 bronze) last week with my order of CX chicks. I am brooding them with the CX and they are all doing great. I can't believe how friendly the poults are. If you put your hand in the brooder, they will walk right into it. Anyway, I had read that turkeys risk developing blackhead if kept with chickens. I was wanting to keep the turkeys in with the CX when I moved them to the tractor, and keep them there until I process the CX at 8 weeks. Is this good/bad idea.

Also, any newbie tips? I have been back reading some posts in this section and have been picking up a few things.

 

[lady feathers]

I am also new to turkeys this year and like you am amazed at how friendly they are.... even more so than many of my chicks! I can't help you with your question about blackhead from experience but when I asked about it I was told that many BYCers keep their turkeys in with their chickens, some in the same coop. I got the impression that as long as they were keep in clean, dry conditions that they could often do very well with chickens. But they also told me although they hadn't had any occurance of blackhead that it was still a possibility. I also got the impression that the most risk was to the turkeys and not the chickens who generally are not affected other than they become carriers. For me my focus is mainly chickens a nda few turkeys so the risk is an "acceptable" one.

Hopefully you will get lots more info from someone who has already had turkeys and chickens together!

Also, I've read repeatedly on this site that it is a good idea to keep turkeys in the brooder for 12 weeks rather than the 6-8 recommended for chickens because they have littl to no immune system until then, after 12 weeks they have a stronger immune system and are better prepare for the things they will come into contact with in the soil offered to them by your tractor. Your cornich cross will probably be butchered before then so you shouldn't realy have to worry about them being together. Also people have warned that sometimes turkeys and chickens get along fine but if they don't a turkey can easily kill your chickens, not saying it would stop me from keeping them together unless a problem presented itself but thought I would let you know of the possibility so you can make the best decision for your investment and purposes with them. Good Luck and enjoy them!