turkey questions?

[SarahBeth9394]

My girl has all the pointer instincts. She'll point at something. She doesn't chase the birds that bathe in our bird bath. But she tree's the squirrels all the time. Oh and take her on a walk and encounter a bunny and you'd think you were walking a bull. I can control her on the leash. We've had skunks in the yard and she will alert us and not approach it. But then that is a skunk. We got her at the shelter and I think she may have been a training reject from a mean trainer. Our coonhound obviously doesn't point but she is doing everything else the pointer does as we got her as a pup and the pointer has been her leader since. I think we'll just have to build well, watch closely, and tie up the dogs when they get too upity. Maybe I'll find some old chain link on craigslist.

 

[Sugar Sand Farm]

We have had turkeys for the past two years. We first got BBB and raised them Now we have bronze turkeys. I put them in the house when we first got them in their own brooder. they were fed chick starter until they were older. We then fed layercrumbes,corn and gamebird feed.When we put them outside we built an enclosure and put netting over the top. We used the cheap bird netting from walmart. This prevented them from flying out as well as kept predators away. DH built them a 4 x 8 house. Each night I put a bowl of feed in the house and they all trot inside for the night. Doing it this way we have not lost one yet. We got 4 the first year and 6 this year.

 

[QuailHollow]

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[wilds of pa]

Hi sandspoultry, nice looking Holland tom there..He is very nice looking..I have a friend with a few pairs of these they are pretty cool turkeys, however his don't roost at night as he says they don't fly to well. I think the male one he has may be close to 40 lbs.. He has them for many years and some of them may be around 5 to 6 years old..



Charlie

 

[pdpatch]

Growing up in the Midwest I had a lot of relation that were farmers and rancher. I can remember many visits where they had mixed poultry. So it has been done for years. But they all free ranged there poultry.

The thing about black head is that is past via the waist of the earth worm. So if you have not had it in the past or present . It won't be past from the Chickens to the Turkeys.

The best thing to do about poultry diseases is to ask you local country Ag extension office about what has been present in your area. If there hasn't been then it is not that much of a risk for the small flock owner. With black head, a chicken can be infected and survive with a turkey it most likely won't.

Most of the information about poultry from many University site are geared towards larger poultry operation. Like thousand not dozens, where if a poultry diseases did get into the flock it would be financially devastating.

So yes you can mix different poultry. Yes there is some risk, but not as much as some say.

As far as expense to make coops pens and runs, I must say we have pruchased very little. Mostly just poultry wire and fasteners. Everything else has been been some one else junk or we got really cheap.

Tom

 

[wilds of pa]

Well id have to say don't raise the 2 together, no matter what studies have been done large or small, raise them in different places/grounds. Let turkeys be turkeys and chickens be chickens. Fighting can be a problem as well, i know when breeding season comes along my male turkeys don't tolerate to much of anything around there hens..of course they are of the Wild Species.

I'm not talking commercial loss myself, even with the small amount of birds most have any loss would be a great loss to them emotionally. for me i hate to loose a bird to something i could have prevented..

Like they say, better safe than sorry.

If some wish to chance it, then each to their own is my thought. But those studies are something the base your choices on...

My choice is separate pens and soil...Been working for me for many years..


Charlie

 

[zatsdeb]

my turkeys and chickens and ducks and guineas all run together, and they all get along quite well.
I think it is up to the individual, I would never tell someone to go ahead and raise them together, but I would not tell them not to.
So I agree with pdpatch..
My critters don't fight, I have a big area(areas) for them to roam, they have access to 3 different pastures in with donkeys and goats with little areas cut out of the fence so they can pass through.
I love watching them all wander aimlessly.
I would love to put a pedometer on my guineas though, they really move around!!!

 

[wilds of pa]

Great, I'm glad its all working out for you..

That is your choice.."If you read it is not recommend to" and I will advise not to..
if someone ask thats what i tell them, but i sure am not going to try to stop them..by all means do what you like..

my rations are fed species specific here. I get good optimum laying here and i like it that way..
Just like i don't raise pheasant with chickens either or bobwhites with chickens as well....

also when i worm by water, i don't have to worry about if my turkeys are getting the dose they require not enough or my chickens are getting to much.. This could vary with any medication by water needed per species..

It all has reason why not to...

The reason not to, out weigh the ones to..pens space should never be the issue, some folks buy things with out thinking ahead..

my point should have been made now..

Here's article on Holland turkeys..
http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/Turkeys/WhiteHolland.html

Thanks
Charlie

 

[deerman]

Alway give advice about not keeping peafowl or turkey with chicken.

Then someone alway tell of people raising them together.

Find out that most of those that do, have lost alot of the peachicks or poults.

I raised over 40 poults this year. Lost none

Some were raised by a broody hen on wire floors, the hen had been wormed. Test for worms and etc.