free range questions

[Mother of All]

I have many chickens that free range in my back yard daily. I have three turkeys 2 females and one adult male. one of the females use to free range with the chickens until last week we but her with the other new turkeys. now the new female has gotten out with the chickens and did fine.
Questions: do I keep the turkeys locked up in a covered run? Do I let just the females free range with the chickens?
Do I try and let the male out with everyone? Will the male fly my 4 foot fence? Will my male get along with the chickens?

 

[Stevo]

My bud down the road lets his Turkeys freerange with his chickens. No problem at all. They actually seem to seperate from them and go off on their own. Problem might be if the gobbler takes a nip outa your behind when you aren't lookin lol.

 

[Mother of All]

but do you think that he will stay in the back yard?

 

[Dogfish]

My tom and hen free range just fine with the chickens. They don't fight between each other, but there was some sparing when the turkeys were smaller. The tom doesn't see the roosters as a threat at all.

 

[Mother of All]

can I assume that there will be pecking order going on for the first few days ie between the rooster and the turkeys

 

[Dogfish]

When I first introduced a rooster, the tom and the roo got into it. The tom tried to assert his dominance and the roo beat him up badly, and that roo was a bit mean to the hens, so I culled him. He's chilling in the freezer right now.

Got two younger roos shortly thereafter, and there has been no issues since.

When the poults were introduced, they did get pecked at, but as they grew, they asserted that they were no to be messed with. My tom weighs about 13lbs and my biggest roo might be 4lbs. One they get above the poult stage, they have interacted well and I don't see any fighting.

With the ages of your turkeys I don't see a huge issue. I would give them a covered area to retreat to.

 

[Tunastopper]

I find it is easy if you have alot of birds. So many that they don't know who to chase and be mean too. Make sure everyone is hungry before you let them out together. Feeding is a bonding time.

 

[PatS]

As far as "flying the coop" while free ranging, in my flock the danger time seems to be early in the morning and late in the evening. After about 9 or 10, the turkeys don't seem to want to fly up on top of things much taller than the pickup truck. When the sun goes down, they start eying everything. One got on the house roof last night for the first time around dusk. That's not the worry, it is all the outbuildings next to the fence that worry me. I'm afraid they might accidently end up on the wrong side of the fence.

 

[thaiturkey]

Quote:
I don't keep chickens and the advice that I read tells me that I have done the right thing unless I decide to keep turkeys and chickens separate. Some turkey and chicken keepers say that they have never had a problem with Blackhead but research shows that its is likely to be a serious problem for turkeys that share ground or coops with other fowl. It's up to you if you want to take a chance.

How the male gets on with the chickens can be found out only by trying. Most keepers apparently have no problem. Your ratio of hens to stags (toms) isn't right so he might just take a fancy to your chickens.

I would say that you can expect some fighting to re-establish the pecking order.

Turkeys can fly over any fence or wall lower than 6'.