Mixing the crew

[honeynajar]

I've got 26 chickens now - 6 older the rest around 8 weeks to 4 months old and 7 guinea plus another 30 meat birds in my crew. About 8 weeks ago, I added 5 turkeys... 3 white meat and 2 Norfolk blacks The turkeys were in a separate pen from the chickens and about a week ago the grandson left the door open and the turkeys were able to mingle with the rest of the crew plus free range. They have become accustomed to my voice and come running with the rest of the crew when I take their morning grub and treats. The meat birds especially have taken a liking to me and have tremendous personality... following me around like I'm Pied Piper. I'm afraid there won't be any harvesting.... But I digress. Since they are mingled together now, do I need to add anything special to the water? I was told a few years ago if I got turkeys that I would need to add something to the water to ensure that the turkeys didn't get an illness that the chickens might have. They haven't been sleeping with the chickens, they go back to their pen at night.
TIA...

 

[GitaBooks]

Sounds like you've got an awesome flock of poultry!

Blackhead is a disease that chickens carry with little to no problem but that can lead to death in turkeys. However, I've heard of a lot of people who keep the two together and I don't think they add anything to the water.
It is a personal choice, a risk that you have to be willing to take if you put the two together. Keeping birds medicated probably isn't a wise idea, especially if you are going to be eating them.
Other game birds can get it to, but I'm not sure whether Guineas can or not.

Best of luck!

 

[GitaBooks]

By the way, is that a triple yolk egg in your avatar?