Introducing new turkeys to the flock

[nchls school]

I'm new to turkeys. This spring my wife bought me some midget white hatching eggs which I placed under broody hens. From those eggs we raised six poults and now have 5 hens and a Tom. They free range with the chickens and all get along fairly well. However, the midget white hens attack any new bird I've tried to add to the flock. So far I've separated the new birds from the flock not wanting them hurt. A while back I bought four half grown bronze turkey poults which I have kept quarantined from the rest of my birds. Now I'd like to introduce them to the flock so they can free range. I know the midget whites will not readily accept the new turkeys. Any advice on how to introduce them successfully would be appreciated.

 

[R2elk]

I'm new to turkeys. This spring my wife bought me some midget white hatching eggs which I placed under broody hens. From those eggs we raised six poults and now have 5 hens and a Tom. They free range with the chickens and all get along fairly well. However, the midget white hens attack any new bird I've tried to add to the flock. So far I've separated the new birds from the flock not wanting them hurt. A while back I bought four half grown bronze turkey poults which I have kept quarantined from the rest of my birds. Now I'd like to introduce them to the flock so they can free range. I know the midget whites will not readily accept the new turkeys. Any advice on how to introduce them successfully would be appreciated.

Make sure that the original flock can easily see the new flock for at least several days. No matter what you do, there is going to be a period of adjustment while the new members and the old members fight it out to establish the new pecking order. The more you interfere with the fights, the longer it will take them to settle their differences.

Good luck.

 

[nchls school]

Thank you for your response. Would it be better to put the new turkeys with the midget whites after dark; placing the bronze turkeys on a roost with the MWT? The bronze have been in a cage where the midget whites can see them. I have noticed there is less aggressive behavior as time goes by. Thanks again.

 

[R2elk]

Thank you for your response. Would it be better to put the new turkeys with the midget whites after dark; placing the bronze turkeys on a roost with the MWT? The bronze have been in a cage where the midget whites can see them. I have noticed there is less aggressive behavior as time goes by. Thanks again.

I would introduce them in the daylight and stand by watching just in case the fighting gets too severe. If they have had sufficient time, for some reason having a fence (cage) between turkeys seems to make them braver and more aggressive than they are when face to face, the fighting may be minimal.

Good luck.

 

[nchls school]

I will do as you suggest. Thanks.