turkey questions

[mtchickens]

my girlfriend really wants and turkey and i was wondering if it would be ok to get 1 turkey to have with our chickens? and if so what would be the best breed to get? and could a turkey eat chicken feed?

 

[KOTurkeyRanch]

Yes its fine. I raise 3 turkeys with 4 chickens. There is a disease chickens can have called blackhead disease and its deadly to turkeys but its pretty uncommon. Get a heritage breed because they live long. the Broad Breasted varieties are designed for commercial use so they grow very quickly. Go to www.porterturkeys.com you can look at them.

 

[nissa_loves_cats]

I got some Chocolate turkeys last year (it's a breed, not a flavor) and raised them in the brooder with silkie bantam chicks. Later in the year I built a turkey pen and put the 2 survivors in there. They set up a racket until I brought the silkies to them--- they thought they were their babies.

One of the 2 turkeys died over winter but the survivor still thinks the chicks are her babies (I think she's a she-turkey) and so she's living in the silkie bantam pen. (If she starts laying eggs I may get her a male turkey so she can have some turkey-babies).

 

[KOTurkeyRanch]

Quote:
If your not sure of the gender perhaps you could post some pictures? I could help you out.