Integrating Turkeys, Laying Hens and a Rooster?

[barnslave]

Hi there! I'm new to here, so please bear with me!!

We currently have six Red Sex-Link laying hens, as well as one Rhode Island Red Rooster

We are looking at expanding our flock to include 3 meat Turkeys; Thanksgiving, Christmas and Oops!

The laying hens and rooster are currently eating a free choice 16% Laying Mash that is high protein to ensure they lay the best possible. It's the one by Country Lake Nutrition, an offshoot of Masterfeeds. It has cracked corn, oats, grit and some other stuff in it.

Is it possible to keep the hens, rooster and turkeys together and feed them all the same thing? We don't need the turkeys to come up to weight quickly ... just by Thanksgiving and Christmas. What feed could they all go on? A grower, finisher ... the lay mash even?

I am looking at getting started Turkeys (2 or 3 week olds), I know the turkey Starter is medicated which means I need them seperated until they are off that at least, if not the Grower as well.

There is plenty of space, it's an 8x8 coop cut in half .. so it's 4x8 right now, but could be opened up for the addition of the Turkeys. The big issue would be that the Turkeys won't fit out the coop door into the run! Heeheee. Could be an issue, though I know many people don't even let their Turkeys outside, so I'm not overly concerned ... Though worst case we could make the door larger, I'm sure.

So is this realistic? Or am I going off the deep end?

On the one hand ... we COULD also make it so the Turkeys use the other half of the coop (3 turkeys to a 4x8 space??) and somehow make a wall between the two ... though the Turkeys would be stuck inside and unable to use the run if we did it that way ... Hmm. Definitely not ideal!

Help me!

- barnslave

 

[Judy]

People do keep chickens and turkeys together, but there is a danger the turkeys will get blackhead from the chickens and die. Some areas have a lot of blackhead, some not. Also, turkeys have other requirements for raising them besides the type of feed. I believe they have to be raised on wire for a while -- I don't know, I would have to research.

I hope this works out for you.

 

[barnslave]

It looks like we would be raising them seperately until they are old enough to eat Grower ration at least ... at which time they can be on solid ground, as far as I know.

We are in Ontario, Canada ... I've never heard of 'blackhead,' but am going to research and see whether it's a threat to our area