Holligans

[3 NH reds]

We got some Turkey early this year and due to a brooder light going out we lost 4 of 6. Now about one month later we got 6 more. I was shocked to see the month old ones in with the new. This is not the box that they were raised in, they have the same feed and of course the older ones have separate feeder and water. The problem is one pullet is getting beat up bad, had allot of dried blood on the head. So I took a metal fold up dog crate to separate them but last night I find one of them had slipped back in.If that bird had another 10 lbs on it it would be in the set it and forget it. I put the Hooligans out to their run last night knowing it is all fenced in and has electric fence to boot. I guess the question is will there be a good time to let them mix? I hope in a couple of weeks the younger can better defend them self. That or I may crate feed the Bully alone but I hate to restrict it.

 

[flocksalot]

You are doing things similar to how I do them. I keep the younger ones pened but with sight access for them to get used to each other. We let out little ones decide when they were ready to sleep with the big birds. Once they can fly over the fence that separates them I take it down and let them mingle. We also have Broad Breasted Whites in with Midget Whites. The BBWs are all older than the MW and of course much taller, but those midgets can move much more quickly. It takes a little time, but they will adjust just fine. I think the Midgets were about 8 weeks and the BBWs were 9 and 13 weeks. They are also all in with my year old BBW hens and toms, and I did the same thing to introduce them. Just give them some time to adjust and grow.

 

[3 NH reds]

Well things may be better. Came home to find 3 turkey in the outside run. I was shocked to see that some young ones were out of their area. The big shock was that the escapee who was out with the older ones was the one who had been beat up pretty hard and everyone was getting along. I was afraid that some of them may have gone out the bottom of the run but they were just in the back of the box hiding.
Now I am making a feeder to give the older ones corn, they liked it when I put a pan of cracked corn in then the female decides it was time to sit in it and kick it everyplace. No one said Broad Breasted Whites had a brain and I can see why!

 

[flocksalot]

Well things may be better. Came home to find 3 turkey in the outside run. I was shocked to see that some young ones were out of their area. The big shock was that the escapee who was out with the older ones was the one who had been beat up pretty hard and everyone was getting along. I was afraid that some of them may have gone out the bottom of the run but they were just in the back of the box hiding.
Now I am making a feeder to give the older ones corn, they liked it when I put a pan of cracked corn in then the female decides it was time to sit in it and kick it everyplace. No one said Broad Breasted Whites had a brain and I can see why!

That's how it always works for us. They fight and establish who is where and then they get along until the next time. Every morning when I let them out of the greenhouse some of the boys decide it's time to show what's what, but after a few minutes of that they go off and sit right next to each other. The nice thing about Broad Breasted for me is that they tend to tire our quicker as they get bigger.

Kicking the corn out of the pan tells me she wants to take a dirt bath. Ours love any loose soil, horse poop, sand, or bedding to take a bath in. My husband tills an area in the garden just for them, or I use a cement mixing pan with something loose for them. You have to fill it up quite often, but it sure does make them happy. Wet sand or dirt on a hot day and they are like hogs in a mud pit.

 

[3 NH reds]

Could well be that she is looking for a dust bath. Their run is elevated to keep them out of the "mess". Might have to put a tray of sand in the coop now and then.