Questions about raising turkeys... HELP! Please

[ohiobirdmom]

I will begin by simply saying I know absolutely nothing about turkeys!! (Just so everyone knows before I begin.)

My local hatchery is going to start selling turkeys here within the next week or so. My fiancé (I swear he's obsessed with chickens, turkeys, and ducks) has decided that he wants to get a few and see how they do. He wanted me to get on here and ask some questions and get some pointers to make sure that it's not going to be problematic.

First off: I have no clue what to do with turkeys, how to raise them, what they can eat, what they can be around, ect.
POINTERS/TIPS/LINKS WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED!!!

Questions:

I have a flock of 45 chickens- would they be okay together?

I have 3 sheep-can my sheep cause problems? Or carry illness turkeys can pick up?

I have 2 separate groups of wild turkeys that roam my backyard/pasture a few times a day- will they become interested in my turkeys and what do I need to know about having domestic turkeys with wild turkeys so close?

What can I feed them? Can they have "treats/scraps" like my chickens do?

I'm sorry if it seems frivolous to start turkeys when I don't know anything about them. That's why I'm starting this thread to make sure that I can go into this with some knowledge as to what I'm getting myself into. (Or what my fiancé is getting us into) any response and reply is greatly appreciated!!

 

[R2elk]

I will begin by simply saying I know absolutely nothing about turkeys!! (Just so everyone knows before I begin.)

My local hatchery is going to start selling turkeys here within the next week or so. My fiancé (I swear he's obsessed with chickens, turkeys, and ducks) has decided that he wants to get a few and see how they do. He wanted me to get on here and ask some questions and get some pointers to make sure that it's not going to be problematic.

First off: I have no clue what to do with turkeys, how to raise them, what they can eat, what they can be around, ect.
POINTERS/TIPS/LINKS WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED!!!

Questions:

I have a flock of 45 chickens- would they be okay together?

I have 3 sheep-can my sheep cause problems? Or carry illness turkeys can pick up?

I have 2 separate groups of wild turkeys that roam my backyard/pasture a few times a day- will they become interested in my turkeys and what do I need to know about having domestic turkeys with wild turkeys so close?

What can I feed them? Can they have "treats/scraps" like my chickens do?

I'm sorry if it seems frivolous to start turkeys when I don't know anything about them. That's why I'm starting this thread to make sure that I can go into this with some knowledge as to what I'm getting myself into. (Or what my fiancé is getting us into) any response and reply is greatly appreciated!!

Read the Turkeys 101 thread.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...-turkeys-what-do-i-need-to-know#post_11309891

The sheep should not affect the turkeys.

The wild turkeys will become interested in your turkeys and your turkeys can become interested in the wild turkeys.

They can have scraps like chickens.

 

[ohiobirdmom]

Read the Turkeys 101 thread.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...-turkeys-what-do-i-need-to-know#post_11309891

The sheep should not affect the turkeys.

The wild turkeys will become interested in your turkeys and your turkeys can become interested in the wild turkeys.

They can have scraps like chickens.

Thank you. I will read up and have my fiancé read too since he's throne dying to get them!

 

[ivan3]

You can download this turkey manual, by chapter (pretty good reference - down to size of grit by age):

http://www.livestockconservancy.org/index.php/resources/internal /turkey-manual

 

[ohiobirdmom]

I will do that. Thanks a bunch!!