Homesteaders

[rancher hicks]

Well I shut it donw to cool off so we shall see. I think I need to get Norton again.

Anyhow. Eveyrone has theri won systpem of what works for them. Me? I use smaller feeders but two so every bird gets a chance. Sam with waterers. I use smaller waters because it keep sme from getting lazy. I have to make sure they have fresh water. Chickens back wash. Ducks are worse. Ducks are messier.

So do your research first, spend half your time planning, the other half designing your ste up. Oh and stay here on BYC.

 

[PhoredaBurds]

I did turkeys with chickens 2 years in a row. The first year was great. Turkeys are quirky and super fun. I had a Wyandotte bond w her turkey friend so much that she was pretty upset when turkey processing day came. I did have to separate them at meal times bc the older chickens would bully the turkeys and steal their food. But for the most part it was a fairly harmonious existence.

The second year I did another 4 turkeys. They were in with more chicken chicks this time, but all about the same size and with plenty of room to run around. I lost all 4 turkeys at about 6 weeks of age. I brought the last one to Cornell for a necropsy where they confirmed blackhead. I had been told blackhead was rare and not in my area, not to worry about it... In hindsight, maybe I could have given them more room, raised the waterers up higher, and grew out the turkeys longer before introducing them to the chickens. Maybe I should have raised them on wire instead of grass. IDK. They were all housed close to the garden, so when we'd be out weeding, earthworms were tossed to the chicks who would get so excited about such a treat. I learned later that earthworms carry a parasite that takes up residence in chickens who then poop the parasite out in a form that if picked up by a turkey will knock out their liver and chew lesions in their GI tract. As their bodies shut down, the lack of oxygen to their tissues can be seen in a grayish tint to their heads, hense: blackhead.

So yes, turkeys and chickens can live together if done carefully or if ur lucky. Sandy soil w/o many worms probably helps. A setup where the turkeys cannot get to chicken poop (such as a wire floor) may help. Even tho I really enjoyed raising turkeys, I personally will not be raising any turkeys on my land again. No more worms for my chickens either. Just one person's experience for whatever that's worth. I'm sure u will find a system that works for you.

 

[duluthralphie]

I did turkeys with chickens 2 years in a row. The first year was great. Turkeys are quirky and super fun. I had a Wyandotte bond w her turkey friend so much that she was pretty upset when turkey processing day came. I did have to separate them at meal times bc the older chickens would bully the turkeys and steal their food. But for the most part it was a fairly harmonious existence.

The second year I did another 4 turkeys. They were in with more chicken chicks this time, but all about the same size and with plenty of room to run around. I lost all 4 turkeys at about 6 weeks of age. I brought the last one to Cornell for a necropsy where they confirmed blackhead. I had been told blackhead was rare and not in my area, not to worry about it... In hindsight, maybe I could have given them more room, raised the waterers up higher, and grew out the turkeys longer before introducing them to the chickens. Maybe I should have raised them on wire instead of grass. IDK. They were all housed close to the garden, so when we'd be out weeding, earthworms were tossed to the chicks who would get so excited about such a treat. I learned later that earthworms carry a parasite that takes up residence in chickens who then poop the parasite out in a form that if picked up by a turkey will knock out their liver and chew lesions in their GI tract. As their bodies shut down, the lack of oxygen to their tissues can be seen in a grayish tint to their heads, hense: blackhead.

So yes, turkeys and chickens can live together if done carefully or if ur lucky. Sandy soil w/o many worms probably helps. A setup where the turkeys cannot get to chicken poop (such as a wire floor) may help. Even tho I really enjoyed raising turkeys, I personally will not be raising any turkeys on my land again. No more worms for my chickens either. Just one person's experience for whatever that's worth. I'm sure u will find a system that works for you.

Learned the thing about earthworms too. I could not find an earthworm within 10 miles of me. That's how sandy it is here.

I am so sorry about your experiences! I have had my turkeys together for 4 year now. So knock on wood, I hope it keeps working.

 

[OrganicFarmWife]

I did turkeys with chickens 2 years in a row. The first year was great. Turkeys are quirky and super fun. I had a Wyandotte bond w her turkey friend so much that she was pretty upset when turkey processing day came. I did have to separate them at meal times bc the older chickens would bully the turkeys and steal their food. But for the most part it was a fairly harmonious existence.

The second year I did another 4 turkeys. They were in with more chicken chicks this time, but all about the same size and with plenty of room to run around. I lost all 4 turkeys at about 6 weeks of age. I brought the last one to Cornell for a necropsy where they confirmed blackhead. I had been told blackhead was rare and not in my area, not to worry about it... In hindsight, maybe I could have given them more room, raised the waterers up higher, and grew out the turkeys longer before introducing them to the chickens. Maybe I should have raised them on wire instead of grass. IDK. They were all housed close to the garden, so when we'd be out weeding, earthworms were tossed to the chicks who would get so excited about such a treat. I learned later that earthworms carry a parasite that takes up residence in chickens who then poop the parasite out in a form that if picked up by a turkey will knock out their liver and chew lesions in their GI tract. As their bodies shut down, the lack of oxygen to their tissues can be seen in a grayish tint to their heads, hense: blackhead.

So yes, turkeys and chickens can live together if done carefully or if ur lucky. Sandy soil w/o many worms probably helps. A setup where the turkeys cannot get to chicken poop (such as a wire floor) may help. Even tho I really enjoyed raising turkeys, I personally will not be raising any turkeys on my land again. No more worms for my chickens either. Just one person's experience for whatever that's worth. I'm sure u will find a system that works for you.

This is what I read about previously. My memory just confused earthworms with other worms :/

 

[PhoredaBurds]

Learned the thing about earthworms too.  I could not find an earthworm within 10 miles of me.  That's how sandy it is here.

I am so sorry about your experiences!  I have had my turkeys together for 4 year now. So knock on wood, I hope it keeps working.

U are so lucky to have sandy soil. We have mostly rocks mixed with some clay. Each year we add more organic material and sand to our garden area. To to grow carrots and potatoes, we dig trenches into which we pour a mix of potting soil and sand. Not very efficient farmers here, lol. Every year it seems like the rocks grow back faster than the weeds.

 

[Chicken girl 15]

I stand firm by my boxes living in ny. Our ground is horrible so we must improvise . I build 4×4 boxes out of 1×6 boards and put garden matting in the bottom. Add soil, compost, organic matter and poo. Oh do this in fall and over winter keep adding. Its crazy how fast your boxes fill and how good it all breaks down. Then come spring give one good rough up with a garden fork and plant. You can also cover with black plastic, it helps heat the soil and break stuff down faster.

Again remember this is one girls opinion. I'm not a farmer.

 

[duluthralphie]

U are so lucky to have sandy soil. We have mostly rocks mixed with some clay. Each year we add more organic material and sand to our garden area. To to grow carrots and potatoes, we dig trenches into which we pour a mix of potting soil and sand. Not very efficient farmers here, lol. Every year it seems like the rocks grow back faster than the weeds.

That is so funny, I think all of you people on heavy soil are so lucky!

I need to water daily, I have to try and build the soil up with manures and compost. It is a never ending task. I cannot grow anything well the soil is so poor. I tried to raise a half acre of corn last year and grew the best crop of tumbleweeds and ragweed in recorded history (granted the weeds got a real head start when I had to go to Florida for business for 6 weeks.)

I would like to plant Russian olives BUT the DNR would go ape poopy if I did. I know they are invasive, but they seem to grow on my soil. Oh well, I will find something. I can grow great jalapenos, but how many can you eat in a year? I can raise decent potatoes.

Between short growing season and poor soil gardening is a pain. I planted 30 cabbage last year to kraut, I did not get one head to mature.... I know I should stop gardening.... I just wish I had heavy soil and a rock, any rock, I do not have little rocks let alone a nice big beautiful rock!



Does anyone need any sandbur seeds?

 

[OrganicFarmWife]

That is so funny, I think all of you people on heavy soil are so lucky!

I need to water daily,  I have to try and build the soil up with manures and compost. It is a never ending task. I cannot grow anything well the soil is so poor. I tried to raise a half acre of corn last year and grew the best crop of tumbleweeds and ragweed in recorded history (granted the weeds got a real head start when I had to go to Florida for business for 6 weeks.)

I would like to plant Russian olives BUT the DNR would go ape poopy if I did. I know they are invasive, but they seem to grow on my soil. Oh well, I will find something. I can grow great jalapenos, but how many can you eat in a year?    I can raise decent potatoes. 

Between short growing season and poor soil gardening is a pain.     I planted 30 cabbage last year to kraut, I did not get one head to mature.... I know I should stop gardening.... I just wish I had heavy soil and a rock, any rock,  I do not have little rocks let alone a nice big beautiful rock!



Does anyone need any sandbur seeds?

Lol every place has its challenges, though I admit my soil is ideal, if only the weather stayed warmer longer. Have you tried raised beds?

 

[duluthralphie]

Lol every place has its challenges, though I admit my soil is ideal, if only the weather stayed warmer longer. Have you tried raised beds?

We do tomatoes in raised beds, I am going to try carrots and onions in them this year. The cabbage is just a hit or miss deal, the year before I put up 15 gallons of kraut.

I also need to keep deer away. I get great cukes. squash. pumpkins and zucchini, if I can keep the deer away.

 

[OrganicFarmWife]

We do tomatoes in raised beds, I am going to try carrots and onions in them this year.  The cabbage is just a hit or miss deal, the year before I put up 15 gallons of kraut.

I also need to keep deer away.  I get great cukes. squash. pumpkins and zucchini, if I can keep the deer away.

Did you see that great idea of growing potatoes in 5 gallon buckets? I am tempted to give that a try this year just for fun.