Lone Wild turkey chick

[Mama Bay]

I just found a wild turkey chick wandering around my chicken coop without it's mama... I fear a coyote or fox must've gotten her because I haven't ever seen the chick without the mama. I have it in a dog crate in the run does anyone know if I can raise it with my chicks? It will not last alone long with all the predators around here

 

[pdirt]

I know people can and do raise (domestic) turkeys with chickens. My main concern would be diseases. Most wild birds are carriers of lots of diseases (and many have developed immunities to them, an advantage your flock of chickens won't likely have) and I am pretty sure a wild turkey chick would be no exception.

 

[Mama Bay]

Maybe it's a guinea?

 

[keesmom]

It does look like a guinea.

 

[Mama Bay]

Yes it's a guinea I think. Once I looked a little closer I noticed an indigo/purple color on the chest.

 

[Mama Bay]

It just appeared out of thin air lol!

 

[pdirt]

Huh! I'm not sure where guineas are native/wild to, but I thought it was usually a breed folks raised. Perhaps you have a neighbor nearby who raises them?

 

[Mama Bay]

It's hard to tell around here... I have seen them a few miles away and I've heard that they can wander pretty far at times so maybe one got away and had some babies. I have never seen any on my property before. I have 11/12 week old chicks and 4 week olds. You think I can put it in with the 4 week olds? The guinea looks to be about 5 or 6 weeks old looking at picture online.

 

[aart]

Guineas often do not stay at home.

 

[MysteriaSdrassa]

Guineas often do not stay at home.

This^^ I gave up on raising guineas as they always slowly wander off and dissapear. The really do like wandering very long distances sometimes. I had better luck raising eastern wild turkeys. Once they know where a food source is, it's hard to get rid of them. In fact we had actual wild birds joining our raised birds and it look a bit to realize the flock was actually growing,, LOL They sure did taste good tho,, not anything like a broad breasted or even heritage variety.