Thinking of Getting a Royal Palm, Any tips? help on locating one or two,

[Joe.G]

Me and a friend are thinking of getting one Royal Palm Turkey Each, Neither of us have ever kept a turkey before, this is just a pet and have no plans to butcher.

How unsafe is it to keep them in the same coop with chickens?

Thanks

 

[Debbi]

Might you mean a "Royal Palm"???? Don't know where to find royal plums...

Sorry, that just caught me as funny. Ask here for Royal Palm turkeys, and I'd bet someone could help you. As for keeping them with chickens, some people do, some will not. From what I have read so far, as I do not have turkeys yet, raise them up to 7 weeks by themselves until their immune systems kick in more, then they should be good to add to the chicken flock. Now I know some folks raise both chicks and poults together from birth, but I would only do that if they were in a raised, off the dirt, brooder situation. Maybe I am being too cautious, but I'd rather be safe than sorry. I will be able to tell you more next spring when I actually get some turkeys! I am quite sure that learning by experience will supercede any advice I can give you now; but these are things you may want to read up on. Good luck finding your turkey and I wish you the best with it!

 

[Celie]

It depends where you live and how big is the coop and what kind of chickens? Have you checked to see if "Black head" is prevalent in your area? A turkey needs more room than chickens and are more fragile when young. Heritage birds do not do as well as chickens in confinement and they can fly very high and over almost everything including houses and vehicles and into streets. Roosters, if aggressive can and sometimes will kill a young poult and when they get older, well, lets just say a rooster will try to mate with everything! Hens will sometimes adopt a young poult and some will kill it ! If you could give more specifics, we could give you better answers. Royal Palms do not get very big, but lightweight turkeys fly better than heavy weight ones can.

 

[Joe.G]

Anyone Know where to get one or two?

 

[SillyChicken]

Joe, your birds would be happier if they had companions...so I would recommend 2 or 3 birds each. They are different from chickens as they won't put themselves to bed at night.
Every night, I have to round up and herd my turkey flock into their coop. They are smart and stupid at the same time. The birds will fly up to the roof of my chicken coop, a good 10 ft and over to get out of the run, that only has a 3' fence.......... go figure! But they cannot for the life of them figure out how to get back in and will pace the fence all day wanting back in........ silly turkeys!

You can check craigslist for royals or do a web search in your area. Also look for foul festivals, chickenstock or other smaller venues like that. You could also go to your state thread on BYC to see if anyone in your area sells them.

I have Royals and sell them as I have them available... but I don't ship birds.... and I don't know where you live!

I raise my turkeys with chickens, but you do have to be aware of black head disease. Mine are fine, so far, but that doesn't mean yours will be.

 

[Joe.G]

I am in NY, Ill start to search, Don't use Craigs list much I ll have to try and figure it out. Everything I see online is 15 Min for shipping, I don't need that many.

 

[SillyChicken]

You'll need to find a breeder in your area..... try google too.

 

[Joe.G]

I could get two, I am intrested to hear, what everyone has to say about raising Turkeys, I would like for them to free range and coop them up at night, DO they roost like chickens do? Are they blind at night? do I have to do anything different for them then I would do for chickens?


I am not set on Royal Palm, But I do like how they look.

I have tried craiglist and I can't seem to find anything close.

 

[kimehag]

hi there i keep my 3 turkeys with my chickens they are all fine . it would be better to have 2 together as they will stay together and play and sleep together .the chicks are the bosses as the turkeys came last.i have no problem with any dieases and have had them for years well the last 2 turkeys only had them 6 months.. they eat the same as my chicks as i am not going to eat them so they don't need turkey pellets to bulk up on and they are still big.. they do not perch at nite with the chicks in the shed they like to fly up and perch on the roof of the shed but my older turkey sleeps with the chicks..i have clipped there wings and still they fly but always com back over the fence...to be with the others..they are very tame and especially inquisitive also are great egg layers..from march till october...hope this helps wen they are young though they are quite like naughty children always running and chasing each other they have very different personalities than chickens...

 

[Lagerdogger]

I could get two, I am intrested to hear, what everyone has to say about raising Turkeys, I would like for them to free range and coop them up at night, DO they roost like chickens do? Are they blind at night? do I have to do anything different for them then I would do for chickens?


I am not set on Royal Palm, But I do like how they look.

I have tried craiglist and I can't seem to find anything close.

They will free range. They will free range far if you let them, especially in the fall. If you range them, you should probably have a fence so they will stay home and so they don't get predated.

They like to roost high and outside. Some people round them up every night, and some people claim to have had good luck training them to come in at night. Mine just stay outside, usually on top of their shelter.

They are not really blind at night. Night is when i clip wings because they are easier to catch at night, but they will fly away, even in the dark, and can certainly outrun you and find hiding places.