Turkeys and Chickens

[drdoolittle]

Just wondering, can you keep turkeys and chickens together? If I got turkeys, they would spend nights separate from the chickens, but daytime out in a big community pen with the chickens some ducks and 2 geese-----not to mention my 6 goats! The pen is about 100' x 100".

 

[ColbyNTX]

Many people keep turkeys and chickens togather but there is always the risk of blackhead. It is carried by some chickens but they don't get it but do pass it to turkeys. Check with your local ag agent and see if blackhead is a problem in your area. My turkeys will hang out with my guineas and chickens but the turkeys sometimes can be bullies. For the most part everybody gets along just fine.

 

[kuntrygirl]

Quote:
I agree. My turkeys and chickens have been living together for many years with no blackhead problem. They share a 1/2 acre area. They eat and sleep on the same roosts together. As ColbyNTX has pointed out, my turkeys are also bullies. They pick on my chickens, ducks, geese, sheep and goat for no reason. They have never injured any of my animals but they are considered "the school yard bullies". My chickens get picked on for no reason. A chicken could be standing up minding his/her own business and a turkey will sneak up behind them and give them a karate kid side kick with NO CONTACT. The chicken takes off running and there goes the turkey as he calls out to the other gang members. The other gang members hear the call, and then you have a circus. I know the turkeys mean no harm because they have never injured any animals, not even a scratch. If the turkeys wanted to harm the other animals, they could. My ladies and gentleman turkeys act like school aged juvenilles. If I thought the turkeys were a threat to my chickens, I would isolate them from the other farm animals. I think my turkeys are just show offs and that they will grow out of this behavior. They turkeys that act this way are all under 1 year old. The older hens and tom never take part in this foolishness. I have Bourbon Reds.

 

[drdoolittle]

kuntrygirl, that just sounds hilarious! As long as no one is getting hurt-----well, "no harm, no fowl"? LOL

 

[turkeymom]

Not to change the topic, but do those of you who keep chickens and turkeys together have problems with your toms mounting your chicken hens?

My tom is in love with one of my chickens and constantly jumps on top of her and pulls out her feathers. It's gotten so bad, I've made a separate pen for him, but my husband wants to eat him if he doesn't start behaving. Will he get better as he grows up - he's only about 10 months, so I'm hoping this is just teenage hormones.

 

[kuntrygirl]

Quote:
I have not had any problems with my toms mounting my chicken hens. He never bothers the chicken hens.