To those who also keep turkeys....

[veronicadm8]

I have also posted this on the turkey forum, but welcome any and all feedback!!

I'm fairly new to turkeys- I've kept chickens for several years and have primarily silkies. I have two young Narraggansetts (less than 6 mos) who seem to single a chicken, not always the same one, and beat the crap out of him/her. I currently have a bloody chicken in isolation (my favorite, of course) I really enjoy the turkeys, but I obviously can't have this. Any of you also have this issue? The gal I got them from has always kept turkeys with chickens and never had an issue. Separate pens are not an option, I am determined to have them free range. Is this a phase? Similar to a young roo who eventually mellows out?? Thanks in advance.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I have had turkeys kill chickens, you might not want to separate but it's the only way not to have this happen. When a turkey focuses on something they don't stop, I have been told it's just my birds, I know it's not. I free range my turkeys for a few hours a day, the chickens know to leave the area, and my chickens have places to go to get away from them, turkeys are like a gang of thugs, they look for trouble, especially when young, they calm down a bit after about two years old, I had two toms raised with chickens, at sexual maturity they pecked the brains out of a leghorn rooster, my husband ate them and I learned to keep them separate.

 

[veronicadm8]

That's what i was afraid of. Thank you. I think I'll keep the Tom. He participates, but she is definitely the aggressor.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

You said you had mostly silkies which are a bit too meek to take care of themselves, as well as not being able to always see well, so I would be really careful, don't want you to learn the hard way like I did, turkeys are fun and interactive, and I really do enjoy mine, but that's what can make them trouble as well, good luck.