New to turkeys.. seeking advice.

[sara1226]

Hi everyone, I will be getting turkeys for the first time on Sunday and I have some questions. I have had chickens for a couple of years now, and when I first got them I made the mistake of getting them from here, there, and everywhere... so I ended up dealing with several illnesses, lice, mites, etc. the turkeys will have a separate pen, and I am getting them from a reputable breeder. However, I am curious if I can feed them the same feed as my chickens, and if I can give them a multi vitamin and probiotics to keep them healthy like I do for my flock now. ??

Is there any other tips or advice that would be helpful for me to know to get me started?

Thank you for any feedback!

Here is a picture of them...

 

[Turkey parents]

You can feed them the same stuff BUT they do better on game bird. Ours are picky and will only eat game bird. Also be prepared to have at least one that will decide that your lap is more comfortable than the ground, we're lucky all of ours think our laps are more comfortable.

You can give them probiotics and the sort especially if you feed them the same stuff as your chickens.

For mites and lice we use permethan (spelling might be off) we also keep cayenne pepper on hand for blackhead it's carried by chickens but will kill turkeys

 

[sara1226]

You can feed them the same stuff BUT they do better on game bird. Ours are picky and will only eat game bird. Also be prepared to have at least one that will decide that your lap is more comfortable than the ground, we're lucky all of ours think our laps are more comfortable.

You can give them probiotics and the sort especially if you feed them the same stuff as your chickens.

For mites and lice we use permethan (spelling might be off) we also keep cayenne pepper on hand for blackhead it's carried by chickens but will kill turkeys

Yes thank you, Blackhead is something I am afraid of. What do you do with the cayenne pepper? Does it prevent blackhead? I also read that a good deworming schedule can help prevent blackhead. Not sure if that's true.

 

[Turkey parents]

I put the cayenne pepper in the water, it treats (or seems to) blackhead, and prevents it (again or seems to). I would suspect a good deworming schedule would do wonders but no body around my area will give it sell me the medication without seeing the birds and unless I drive 300 miles no one will see "barn yard birds"

 

[sara1226]

I know most people keep turkeys for food, but my chickens are just pets, and these gals will be also for pets. Does anyone know the average life span of a pet turkey??

 

[Tacampbell1973]

I am a first year turkey parent. My jake just turned 9 months and is developing a mean streak. He nearly killed my new Polish chick 2 weeks ago and I'm pretty sure he did kill a juvenile chick last month. Feathers all over the yard but any other predator would have not left the carcass.i should also mention his mate/sister was "coyoted" from our yard a month ago. I found both his and her feathers so I know he tried to protect her. I will not cull him or rehome him but he has to understand he can't kill his flockmates. He is now the only turkey. Am waiting to buy his sister when she is born this season.

 

[Turkey parents]

Heritage turkeys live around 15 years broad breasted birds only have a lifespan of about 1-2 years sometimes you get one that lasts longer but they are plagued with leg problems, heart problems, and breathing problems.

Tacampbell; you may need to assert your dominance in the flock grab him turn upside down pin his head to the ground. Turkeys are also susceptible to PTSD just like people so it's possible that he may have it from fighting the predator. My little Rio Grande Wild Tom has a few health issues himself so he can't be with general population. He sleeps with me at night and wakes me up when I'm having asthma attacks or PTSD related nightmares from my days as a firefighter. He has turned into quite the little unofficial companion service animal.

 

[R2elk]

I am a first year turkey parent. My jake just turned 9 months and is developing a mean streak. He nearly killed my new Polish chick 2 weeks ago and I'm pretty sure he did kill a juvenile chick last month. Feathers all over the yard but any other predator would have not left the carcass.i should also mention his mate/sister was "coyoted" from our yard a month ago. I found both his and her feathers so I know he tried to protect her. I will not cull him or rehome him but he has to understand he can't kill his flockmates. He is now the only turkey. Am waiting to buy his sister when she is born this season.

He is a turkey and will never understand. You cannot keep a lone tom turkey with chickens because he will end up killing the chickens when he attempts to breed them. If you insist on keeping him, you will have to keep him separate from the chickens. It is not a good idea to keep turkeys in a 1:1 ratio. I try to keep at least 4 to 5 hens for a single tom.

Breeding him to his "sister" is called inbreeding and is also not a good idea.

 

[Turkey parents]

I couldn't disagree with you there if I wanted to R2elk.