Turkey coop and nesting question

[lynn1961]

These are the birds I bought last week. I am guessing 4 to 5 months old ? Though not sure on the ages.

 

[Hawkeye95]

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They are gorgeous!!!! I love turkeys.

 

[Egg Rookie 2010]

Im glad to see this post as I have been thinking of getting turkeys for next spring. (well next Thanksgiving!) so anyway I have a few questions. I thought #1 you dont house turkey with chicken cause of some disease. and #2 are the toms vicious like my neighbors keep saying?

 

[Hawkeye95]

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People worry about chickens passing on Blackhead to their turkeys. It's darned near fatal to a turkey if he gets blackhead. But if you check over on the turkey page- a lot of them put Cayenne pepper in their feed to help prevent disease. They also have some other tricks they use to keep them healthy. We have always had turkeys and chickens together successfully. That's not to say something can't happen.. but for years we've had no issues. And NO!! Tom's are great! At least, if you get them young and really give them a lot of attention, they are super sweet. Or at least, ours have been. Even when they strut and hiss- I could still go up and pet and cuddle ours, they just gave me an annoyed look. But mine were really tame and laid back, and we raised them from babies. Don't think I'd go pet a hissing strutting Tom if I didn't know him.

That wasn't very nice of someone to tell you that all toms are vicious. Some roosters are too-- and others are sweet. It depends on their personality.

ETA-- just wanted to say I'm no turkey expert! these are just my own experiences and you have great questions that if you're really worried, I'd go ask them on the turkey page where the real experts are!

 

[kelidei]

Quote:
People worry about chickens passing on Blackhead to their turkeys. It's darned near fatal to a turkey if he gets blackhead. But if you check over on the turkey page- a lot of them put Cayenne pepper in their feed to help prevent disease. They also have some other tricks they use to keep them healthy. We have always had turkeys and chickens together successfully. That's not to say something can't happen.. but for years we've had no issues. And NO!! Tom's are great! At least, if you get them young and really give them a lot of attention, they are super sweet. Or at least, ours have been. Even when they strut and hiss- I could still go up and pet and cuddle ours, they just gave me an annoyed look. But mine were really tame and laid back, and we raised them from babies. Don't think I'd go pet a hissing strutting Tom if I didn't know him.

That wasn't very nice of someone to tell you that all toms are vicious. Some roosters are too-- and others are sweet. It depends on their personality.

ETA-- just wanted to say I'm no turkey expert! these are just my own experiences and you have great questions that if you're really worried, I'd go ask them on the turkey page where the real experts are!

I have turkeys for the first time. Right now I probably have 10 toms, three of which are mature all of them are sweeties. I also got them as poults and I have hand fed them treats since they were young. My only suggestion is to wear gloves when they get bigger... in trying to get the treats they will accidentally grab a finger

I have chickens in with my turkeys as well but they were all raised together and their run is built on fresh ground (never had birds there). Since wild birds can carry the disease I tend not to worry... what do wild turkeys do? I haven't used the cayenne but it is a good idea... also I keep Fishzole on hand. It is the drug that treats the fungus that causes blackhead. The key is to treat as soon as you see the sulfur yellow stools... so far so good. I have not had disease issues with any of my birds. After thinking about what helps in my case I believe is that each spring... as soon as the ground thaws we dig out the old sand in all the runs and put a fresh 6 to 8 inches of clean sand in. I started doing this because I cannot stand stinky runs... in the end I think it also helps to control diseases.

 

[blue lotus]

We have been keeping our turkeys and chickens together as well without any health issues, but this is our first year. I LOVE watching them! They are so much fun.

We have been trying to figure out a better coop area for them as the chicken coop we made years ago is really too small for them, and they like to roost so high up. I would love to see other ideas on housing areas for turkeys that live with chickens.

 

[Hawkeye95]

KeliDei- LOVE your Royal Palms!! Aren't they soooo pretty!?! I have one, too! She is just the sweetest bird.

 

[kelidei]

Quote:
Thank you... they are such pretty birds!!

Below are pics of our turkey area in progress. The first is the coop--- minus the doors it will have (if the weather improves enough to work with power tools out side

) And the second is the run that surrounds the coop. It has a very high roof that creates the height that the turkeys like instead of having them roost in the trees.

 

[Hawkeye95]

Quote:
Thank you... they are such pretty birds!!

Below are pics of our turkey area in progress. The first is the coop--- minus the doors it will have (if the weather improves enough to work with power tools out side

) And the second is the run that surrounds the coop. It has a very high roof that creates the height that the turkeys like instead of having them roost in the trees.


https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/25346_turcoop.jpg

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/25346_turkey-run.jpg

it looks great! Pretty, too!!! Oh yes, I've discovered turkeys are great at flying!

I've seen those dog kennel panels at Lowes- those are REALLY super nice! I would love to do that. But I think it was a bit too pricey to go that route. We're working on our run next. Just going to use hardware cloth over posts with a top. I love how they are all over there checking you out while you're trying to take a picture.

 

[melvawicklund]

I got my first turkey last Spring (March) and she is a Red Bourbon Heritage. She just started laying eggs and has laid 6 so far. Three a week. The eggs are still smaller than the chicken eggs, but completely formed and very delicious. I was surprised at how much she craps compared to my chickens. I have to clean her sleeping area every day. She chose to perch on top of the nesting house inside the coup. I put clean litter up there every day.

My turkey "Fyola" was raised with our Silkie "Elvie" about the same age..give or take a day or two. They have been so cute together and the Silkie loves to sleep under the turkey's wing. I'm still waiting to see if the Silkie is a boy or girl...I think maybe a boy...he/she has not laid any eggs and has tail feathers that hang out somewhat like a rooster.

My Golden Sex Link Hen of three years has just quit laying eggs. Maybe moult...maybe age related.

So you see they all live together and no problems....so far! We use White shavings inside the coup and just dirt/gravel on the outside run. The fence is just one of those wire things from the pet store for keeping puppies together safe. About 4 ft high. Clipping the turkey's one wing keeps her in usually, but she can jump up on it and out. The yard is fenced with a 6 foot fence so...sometimes I let them wander the yard for bugs and grass.