New to turkeys...have questions!!

[Chickenkate17]

Hi,

I'm re-starting a flock after losing my hens to a coyote two weeks ago I've only had hens before, but am thinking about adding a couple turkeys this time around.

I have some questions:
- If I get the chickies and poults at the same time will they get along?
- What turkey breed do you like the most? Why?
- Besides size, how are males and females different? Are males louder than females? (like roosters vs. hens)?
- Do turkeys roost at night?
- How much space do they need?

Thanks!!

 

[maidenwolfx80]

Sorry to hear about the loss

They all will get along but just like any flock there will be picking and pecking but I have never had anything serious.
I love narragansetts and royal palm. They are both very personal, want attention and are very good mothers to their babies
Males will gobble at strangers or new noises and yes its pretty darn loud. But females are talkative with their peeping
Turkeys do roost at night and love to be as high as possible.
depending on breed, for narragansetts at adult size 6-8 sq ft and smaller ones like palms and blue slates 4-6 sq ft

 

[aoxa]

I think it would depend on what you wanted out of your turkeys. I have only had one breed, and that breed is not allowed to be raised domestically in the US (for the most part), but I love them. They are Eastern Wild poults.

Gobbling is loud, but I find their peeps very soothing in comparison to a chicken.
They love to roost. As high as they can get.
My turkeys get along fine with most of my chickens. They don't care for certain roosters, and I love watching them strut around them. They love my silkies best.

 

[sophiesmith]

I raise 1 bronze breasted male and a bronze breasted female. I have seven chickens just hens. First we had 6 hens and nothing else. They got sad and wanted some company. My mom went to the store while my sister and 2 brothers and i cleaned the coop. She came back and had 2 female turkeys and 2 ameracunas and 2 australorps. Well time passed and All of them died expect for 1 ameracuna. my mom got a refund and brought back two turkeys and 1 ameracuna and 2 australorps. They got older and older. The 2 australorps died and the one ameracuna died. We figured out that they ate their own poop.

 

[maidenwolfx80]

They all will eat the poop, they peck the ground looking for food and bugs, That is not anything you can avoid. Did they show any signs of illness before they died? They might have picked up a bacteria or virus while pecking around the ground..

 

[sophiesmith]

Maybe I do not know.

 

[maidenwolfx80]

Always keep a look out for signs like,, not eating, not drinking or drinking too much, poo that is not normal, not wanting to walk around with the others, inlarged crop, sneezing, runny nose. These things can help you determine if one is sick and you can treat them and save them.