Turkey Integration

[MickWithChicks]

I've integrated dozens of chickens in with my flocks over the years, but my experience with integrating turkeys is slim.

I currently have 2 turkeys - 1 white tom and 1 lavender hen, and want to add another 2 hens (a red and a bronze from seperate breeders). The 2 existing turkeys both around 3 years old. I originally had 2 hens in with my chickens until 1 hen died from egg binding.

I introduced a tom in an adjoining run, and after 2 week quarantine, I introduced the hen to the run while she was brooding (chicken) eggs. They got along instantly, which is something I'm sure was probably a fluke. They're currently housed with 2 roosters that the hen hatched, but those are being removed before introducing new turkeys.

We're currently in winter, so now seems like the best time to integrate before the spring aggression starts. Is there anything else I should do outside of the normal chicken integration techniques -- coops next to eachother; feeders within eye shot so they're close when eating, etc? I'm just fully aware that turkeys will fight through wire fencing and won't stop until they can get at eachother (my hens used to often fight like this in mating season), so I'd probably prefer to just throw all 4 (2 new hens, existing hen and existing tom) inside the same run and let them get it out of their system.

How does everyone here do it?

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

Make some hiding places some places to fly up to, some areas so the ones getting pecked on can hide for a while when they've had enough abuse.
Be prepared for bloody heads, swollen eyes ...ect. It's not pretty.

 

[R2elk]

I've integrated dozens of chickens in with my flocks over the years, but my experience with integrating turkeys is slim.

I currently have 2 turkeys - 1 white tom and 1 lavender hen, and want to add another 2 hens (a red and a bronze from seperate breeders). The 2 existing turkeys both around 3 years old. I originally had 2 hens in with my chickens until 1 hen died from egg binding.

I introduced a tom in an adjoining run, and after 2 week quarantine, I introduced the hen to the run while she was brooding (chicken) eggs. They got along instantly, which is something I'm sure was probably a fluke. They're currently housed with 2 roosters that the hen hatched, but those are being removed before introducing new turkeys.

We're currently in winter, so now seems like the best time to integrate before the spring aggression starts. Is there anything else I should do outside of the normal chicken integration techniques -- coops next to eachother; feeders within eye shot so they're close when eating, etc? I'm just fully aware that turkeys will fight through wire fencing and won't stop until they can get at eachother (my hens used to often fight like this in mating season), so I'd probably prefer to just throw all 4 (2 new hens, existing hen and existing tom) inside the same run and let them get it out of their system.

How does everyone here do it?

The recommended method is to quarantine before introduction to hopefully prevent bringing in any new diseases or pests. The see but don't touch method helps but as you already know, there will be pecking order disputes.

The more you interfere with pecking order disputes, the longer it will take them to settle their differences.

 

[MickWithChicks]

Thanks all. It's about what I thought then I guess. I'll do the usual quarantine within sight whilst worming and treating for coccidiosis in both new and existing turkeys, then throw them into the guantlet and wait out the battle.

I know exactly what the fighting looks like. The two hens periodically fought for hierarchy, seasonally, and it's brutal. I learned early not to interfere and made sure I was within earshot but out of sight when they did. Always hated watching it, but let it happen.

Hopefully with small numbers from individual flocks it'll be less brutal (with less ganging up) than it would be introducing just a couple to a reasonably large flock.

 

[NY Coturnix]

Kind of a side question to this topic.

Is it easier to add a Tom to an existing flock or hens? Would as in this situation having a small flock with an existing Tom limit the fighting or is it just something that has to worked out in each situation. I'm still at the beginner stage but love these kinds of questions.

 

[R2elk]

Kind of a side question to this topic.

Is it easier to add a Tom to an existing flock or hens? Would as in this situation having a small flock with an existing Tom limit the fighting or is it just something that has to worked out in each situation. I'm still at the beginner stage but love these kinds of questions.

It depends on the situation. Adding a tom to a flock of hens usually goes pretty smooth. Adding a tom to a small flock that already has a tom is not a good idea. If the toms are pretty much equal it can result on a long drawn out fight that continues every day.

Adding a hen to a small flock that already has a tom can go smooth or rough depending on how dominant the new hen is.

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

I agree with R2elk @NY Coturnix . I introduced a new Tom to my 4 hens and they took favorably to him right away.
Two of my hen turkeys would fight my preexisting Tom if I kicked him out and put him back in later because I had 2 Toms at that time.

 

[NY Coturnix]

interesting. Thanks for the info