Intergrating?

[sfgwife]

Are turkeys like chickens when integrating poults with hens? A few weeks ago we got two grown layin hens and put them in their spot and eight (now six poults... mama gave away two poults for us yea uhhhm anyhoo). Hens doin great poults have been in brooder inside doin great also. Yesterday they went outside in a dog pen for the day but it was sposed storm last night so we brought them back in. Today is gonna be the eviction day for these lil dudes for good i am pretty sure. But. Do we need put their pen in the hen's pen so they get used to them? Then let them out with supervision like we would need do chickens? Is there a certain size it is easier to do this like the poults need be half the size of hens before we do it? Or are turkeys easier to integrate? Mebbe just dump em and go? Hahhaha. That would be mean i know. But these dudes are out of the brooder cause they absolutely loved the grass and roosts yesterday. They made quiet lil turkey noises not scared in a corner peeps. . Where each are right now is not close or within seein or hearin distance. Never had turkeys and what we read isn't helpin much on this part of the scheme of mixin hens and poults together.

And. How high will these lil buggars fly/jump when we clip their wings? How soon is too soon to clip wings? Only do one wing right? (The poults are bout six weeks now we think) I want to make sure their roost is a good level for them be able get on. And the pen the hens in doesn't have a net over it so i don't want littles to jump out. The fence is five ft high. The hens evidentally have had their wings clipped cause they just run and flap no aerobatics... yet anyway. We do put them in a closed place at night.

 

[Fanci Feathers Marans]

I would clip their wings, for starters. I also think that turkey integration is the same as chickens. Here's how I would do it;
Wait until all the hens have laid their eggs, (now would be a perfect time) then lock the hens out of their run and house. Next, put the poults inside. This way, the little ones can get their bearings on the place, and watch the big hens through the run fence.
When it gets almost dark, you will notice the big hens start to pace the fence. Let them in as late as possible. They will be hungry, and hopefully go right to eating and ignore the chicks that they have been watching all day.
Stay in the pen and watch. If possible, 'suggest' to the hens that they should go to roost by shutting the coop door and making it darker. You may or may not want the little ones in the coop at this time.
Once they are all on the roost, you should have nothing to worry about.
You may have trouble getting the poults to go back to the coop the following night, though. Perhaps have a separate cage ready in case you have to keep them inside the run, and a fight breaks out.

 

[sfgwife]

I could do the feed part as far as pellet goes. But the hens don't roost. :/. We got them a few weeks ago when we got the poults and they have yet to use the roost. They both lay in a back corner where they have made their nest mostly but some nights right by the door. And yes we have put them on the roost they just wont stay.

The next dilema... they are late late afternoon layers. So the littles would only have maybe an hour and half without the hens in there.

We are usin an old calf barn. It has three stalls in it. Our thought was to move the straw and supplies we have in the middle stall to the far right (hens are in left at night) and put up wire to keep the littles in at night and durin the day for a bit. And add the littles a roost in there. And add a small run outside that the hens can't get into but everyone can see everybody else and such for the poults to free range. So like you said the hens and littles could all look but no touchie. Then do also like you said let them go and stay and watch to make sure all goes ok. And do it on a day we would be home to visit often. Then when everyone gets along open up the two stalls to make it one open one.

We just weren't sure if turkeys were the same as far as integrating goes as chickens. And it took a bit of famagglin to get done without much fightin.

Thank you for your reply and help!

 

[Fanci Feathers Marans]

Sure thing! As far as the roost, you did say that you clipped your hens' wings... maybe it's too high? Mine only jump about 3 feet with clipped wings.

 

[sfgwife]

Sure thing! As far as the roost, you did say that you clipped your hens' wings... maybe it's too high? Mine only jump about 3 feet with clipped wings.

We think they were done before we got them. They flap but no lift off. Their feather ends looked kinda rough all around though. Not sure if that is normal or not? We put the roost at three ft high. . But still they won't roost. . I asked the mister if he would lower it just bout half a foot or a foot to see if they would get on that.

We have checked the girls over really well a little bit at a time so they are gettin used to us along with us makin sure no bugs and yuck reside on them. They are quite grumpy with messin with their wings yet though. (Although last night while i rubbed one she let me slip my hands under a wing for a few seconds.. so progress) So we have just been talkin to them, walkin around them and makin noises tryin get them more open to us messin with them. They prefer hubby to me. So when we have looked at them he usually talks and coos at them and i am more quiet. I clean their pen and do chores around them and talk to them and they just fuss the whole time at me lol! I figure if i keep on doin the dirty work eventually they will come around. He talks sweet nothings to them and they are quiet.

 

[Fanci Feathers Marans]

Ha ha! Grumpy hens.
Anyway, they should moult off those rough feathers in the fall. Their legs alone should get them onto that lower roost. Hope everything turns out all right with the poults!