Turkeys and chickens.

[Athiena14]

I have a couple of young turkeys (not sure of age.) I just got them today and was hoping to Integrate them into my chicken flock. So far they seem to be doing good. A few pecks here and there from the hens and a couple from the dominant roo. The coop is fairly large and enough roosts for the chickens and a large area that was going to be for the turkeys. Could anything go wrong with this or any signs of anything going wrong. I had a friend that took some of these babies a week ago and her mean roo killed all but one. So I'm wondering if there is any way to keep this from happening.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I highly recommend keeping them separately. The species aren't behaviorally compatible.

 

[Noellereagan]

I keep turkeys and chickens together. But they lived side by side where they could see each other for a long time before I mixed them. I also mixed them on neutral ground- being free range so 1) they could get away from each other and 2) neither was territorial about their area. The turkeys were 9 weeks at the time of mixing the flocks and weigh twice as much as the chickens. However, now and then the chickens pick on a poult that’s a little gimpy and moves slow (I have a rooster flock of five roosters so everyone is dominate). The biggest concern is blackhead. I didn’t fully read the post so I’m not sure if the turkeys age is there but you sure shouldn’t mix them before at least eight weeks. Chickens are immune to blackhead but Are carriers. It’s usual terminal to poults/ turkeys. They get it from chicken poop, soil and earthworms. It’s pretty nasty. And it can live in the ground up to two years even after chickens are no longer kept on this ground. Good luck!
Nöelle
PS
You can call your local ag extension (I think that’s who I called) and ask if there’s been blackhead reported in your area. Of course mine said no reported cases yet at the feed mill I ran into a man that had lost turkeys to it and just not reported it. He lived less than ten miles away. So this isn’t fool proof either. I’m not sure if keeping a handle on the chicken poop helps but I’d imagine. You know how turkeys eat any and everything. I clean everyday.
Good luck. Keep us posted.

 

[Noellereagan]

I see a separate run in your coop. Can you keep the turkeys in that for a while? If blackhead isn’t a concern and they’re at least 8 weeks and a peck was the worst of it I’d say they’ll probably be okay. But many others would say no. All I know is chickens and five roosters together works for me. Actually, my dominate too protects the turkeys sometimes when the other lower on the totem pick on the weak link poult. It’s darling actually.

 

[3boydad]

I highly recommend keeping them separately. The species aren't behaviorally compatible.

please explain this because i don't personally know anyone who had runs for turkeys and chickens and not letting them hang. Is there factual basis with links for us to read or is this opinion? really curious to know!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

please explain this because i don't personally know anyone who had runs for turkeys and chickens and not letting them hang. Is there factual basis with links for us to read or is this opinion? really curious to know!

Just my own experiences. I've had toms kill roosters, and my turkey hens will chase and harass chickens when the mood hits them. Turkeys are big strong birds that often don't let things go. I have watched turkey fights go on for hours and even days. I personally don't want my chickens on the receiving end of that. When my turkeys are out the chickens often all leave the area to stay away from them. Do as you wish with your own birds. I have seen what turkeys can do. They are wonderful birds best kept in their own shed and run.

 

[acolt45]

My birds get along; once in awhile one hen will chase one little trouble maker.

I have baby Welsummers, Rohde Island Reds and 2 Turkeys.
They went free range this week at One Month Old, and mix in with the 18 month old hens.
The Turkeys fit in very well with no issues. They follow the grown ups, and nest with the baby's.

No Mather what you think,I am part of the Gang.

​

 

[R2elk]

My birds get along; once in awhile one hen will chase one little trouble maker.

I have baby Welsummers, Rohde Island Reds and 2 Turkeys.
They went free range this week at One Month Old, and mix in with the 18 month old hens.
The Turkeys fit in very well with no issues. They follow the grown ups, and nest with the baby's.
View attachment 1547453

No Mather what you think,I am part of the Gang.

​

This is a major mistake that many people make about mixing chickens and turkeys and guineas, etc. Everything can go fine while everyone is still as immature as your birds are. What happens when hormones kick in as they mature or worse yet when breeding season rolls around can and often is a totally different story.

In the case of turkeys and chickens, turkeys imprint too easily and because of the adult size differences it can be very harmful to the chickens when breeding season rolls around and hormones are running rampant.

These were all raised together by the same turkey hen. Fortunately the rooster decided flight was the better part of valor before any damage actually happened.

 

[acolt45]

How true, every hatching is different. All our birds are Free Range, no roosters (so far).
Hopefully everything will work out as before. We had good results, these are almost like Pets, with daily contact, holding, petting and interaction with..

We are basing this year on what happened a few years back.
We had two heritage turkeys, 1 female and 1 male. They had there own building, one thing surprised us; a few hens started hanging out with the Turkeys, then the birds started perching outside overnight together. During the day they had there choice of where to go.
The male turkey would try and follow the wild turkeys, he would always get lost trying to keep-up with the wild ones as they could fly away; we would find him on the roadside a half a mile away later in the day and have to walk him back home, once he was in the drive way he was fine. He'd flap his wings and head back to the coop.

He was a daily challenge but call his name and he would respond if within hearing distance and return home.

We found out Chickens are easier to care for than domestic turkeys.

When this turkey hatch her eggs, she did not know what to do. If the hatchling does not exit the shell, she left it there. If the chicks do not keep pace with the mother they are left behind. We ended up raising the chicks inside where it was warm. But she wanted them back once they could run again (2 hours later)! She did teach them to fly and perch in two weeks, but did not keep them warm. We kept a close eye on them while young.

We will learn more from these two birds and how they react, there is no issue keeping them apart if required.

Our Hens just ignore them.
We learned the Roosters cause much stress on the birds.