Meaties and Turkeys....together!

[gumshu69]

OK, I know this has been covered to some degree. I couldn't find anything specifically about my issue\question. I've got 50, 2 day old cornish cross in the brooder right now. In 2-3 weeks they will be moved to an area with electric poultry fencing (50'x50') and a 15'x15' coop within that area. I also have 7 Narragansett turkeys (currently 1 week old) in a brooder. My plan was that in 2-3 weeks move both out to that area. June 2nd is butcher date for the crosses. So, in the 4-5 weeks they will be together, is the black head really a concern? The crosses have been vacc'd. The turkeys will be butchered in the days before Thanksgiving. Any and all feedback is welcome.

 

[AmericanMom]

OK, I know this has been covered to some degree. I couldn't find anything specifically about my issue\question. I've got 50, 2 day old cornish cross in the brooder right now. In 2-3 weeks they will be moved to an area with electric poultry fencing (50'x50') and a 15'x15' coop within that area. I also have 7 Narragansett turkeys (currently 1 week old) in a brooder. My plan was that in 2-3 weeks move both out to that area. June 2nd is butcher date for the crosses. So, in the 4-5 weeks they will be together, is the black head really a concern? The crosses have been vacc'd. The turkeys will be butchered in the days before Thanksgiving. Any and all feedback is welcome.

I don't recommend it... The meaties are food aggressive, they hog the feeder and will by far out pace the turkeys in growth. I have 20 meaties and I had 7 chicken chicks that were raised with them. I finally separated them because the chickens could never get to the feeders.

I don't have blackhead in my area so it wasn't an issue for me. I do raise my turkeys with my backyard flock of chickens and they do fine.

 

[gumshu69]

Maybe the question I should be asking is how do I know if I have Black Head on my property?

 

[AmericanMom]

Maybe the question I should be asking is how do I know if I have Black Head on my property?

Call your local extension office and talk to other farmers in your area, feed stores etc..