Turkeys and chickens together?

[jessica32]

I recently ordered some chicks from ideal poultry. It is my understanding that they add roosters to your shipment if you order less than 25. I ordered 15. I was fine with getting the extra roosters until recently, my roosters are going crazy with the crowing. Now I am afraid to have 10 extra roosters that may not be ready to be butchered until they are several months old. I don't mind the crowing but, I have several nearby neighbors that probably will. I have considered getting a few turkeys to offset the amount of roosters that will be sent to me. I am wondering how they might get along. I will be adding my new chicks and poults in with 18 adult chickens when they are old enough. I have looked into blackhead and am willing to risk it as I have found some preventative measures I am willing to try and have asked around and feel that it is not prevalent in my area. My chickens and turkeys will free range all day. I am concerned about night though. If the turkeys choose to roost in the coop will it be harmful to the chickens? If they roost outside how hardy are they? I live in a cold winter climate and a partially wooded area. Will my turkeys be very susceptible to predators if they are allowed to roost in trees? My plan would be to get about 5 straight run heritage turkeys. Advice please.

 

[scooter147]

Quote:
1. I have raised chicks and turkeys together for years. Now most my turkeys never make it past Thanksgiving and Christmas ;-) I never had an issue with blackhead, the turkeys picking on the chickens or vice versa.
2. If the turkeys are raised in a coop they should roost in the coop.
3. I never recommend letting domestic poultry roost in trees at night. Too many things out there that would love a easy turkey dinner.

Now all that being said I had a pair of royal palm turkeys that roosted on top of my chicken coop each and every night, in all types of weather and never seemed worse for wear. If we had a snow storm in the middle of the night you would go out and all you saw where these two heads and they were only noticable because of the red on their heads. The snow just settled right on their bodies, didn't melt. Now, I did have a good ole mutt that patroled the place at night so no predators every got past his watchful eye.

 

[Cindiloohoo]

Mine were together. The chicken picked on the tom a bit, but turks are so mild mannered he didn't seem to even be bothered by it. They now range outside the chicken run and sleep on the trampoline. They still get along well with the chickens when they range. I have never had issues with blackhead either. I think the turks deter the hawks too, because they fly low out here very rarely and NEVER hit the ground. I have white chickens easily visible from the sky, and a white goat kid out there. We had a hawk fly over yesterday, but never offered to land when tom started puffing up and gobbled. I dunno if that's what stopped it for sure or not, but he left and hasn't been back.

 

[houndit]

WE used to keep ours totally separate. Now we run them all together. We have never had blackhead. The main problem is feed. Turkeys usually require a higher protein feed than chickens.