Integrating new turkey hen(s) to small flock

[DuckDuckSook]

Hello Friends!
I'm considering adding a new hen or two to my existing small turkey flock. I currently have 1 Tom and 2 hens. Any pointers? I've integrated chicks and chickens many many times. This would be my first time with turkeys. Is it similar? What can I expect? Should I even bother? Thanks.

 

[R2elk]

Hello Friends!
I'm considering adding a new hen or two to my existing small turkey flock. I currently have 1 Tom and 2 hens. Any pointers? I've integrated chicks and chickens many many times. This would be my first time with turkeys. Is it similar? What can I expect? Should I even bother? Thanks.

It is a good idea to add additional hens to your flock.

Standard method is to quarantine the new arrivals to make sure they are not bringing in disease or pests.

Prior to introduction, have a see, no touch barrier between the new arrivals and your flock until any overt aggression at the barrier stops.

Once aggression at the barrier stops, allow them all into the same pen. Stand back and watch. Unless the aggression gets too bad, stand back and leave them alone.

Pecking order disputes will happen and have to be settled turkey style without your interference.

The more you interfere, the longer the disputes will take to settle.

Good luck.

 

[DuckDuckSook]

It is a good idea to add additional hens to your flock.

Standard method is to quarantine the new arrivals to make sure they are not bringing in disease or pests.

Prior to introduction, have a see, no touch barrier between the new arrivals and your flock until any overt aggression at the barrier stops.

Once aggression at the barrier stops, allow them all into the same pen. Stand back and watch. Unless the aggression gets too bad, stand back and leave them alone.

Pecking order disputes will happen and have to be settled turkey style without your interference.

The more you interfere, the longer the disputes will take to settle.

Good luck.

Hello.
Well, we added a new turkey to our flock. After quarantine, she is in the run with our other turkeys now behind a metal exercise pen fence and netting. The other turkeys can see her and they've been interacting at the barrier. A little bit of aggression since today was Day 1, but nothing too nasty. I'm hopeful that they will all get along with time. I'm just taking it very slowly and anxiously awaiting when they peacefully coexist at the barrier so we can move to the next step. I'll keep you updated. I've integrated chickens and ducks, but never turkeys so I have a little experience with other birds. Just taking it one day at a time.

 

[R2elk]

Once they are together there will be pecking order disputes that will have to be settled.