Turkeys and chickens

[jgiajnorio]

Can I raise turkey chicks with my chicken chicks in the same brooder at the same time?

 

[gryeyes]

I have. It's even recommended to have a couple of "tutor" chicks to help the poults figure out how to drink and eat.

 

[flocksalot]

I have. It's even recommended to have a couple of "tutor" chicks to help the poults figure out how to drink and eat.

Starting and brooding them together is fine, but remember chicks feather out quicker and are ready to go out quicker than turkeys. You would just need to keep on eye on the turkeys and make sure they are doing ok. Chicks will also step all over and climb on top of turkeys, so watch those gentle little twerps.

I usually have a few chicks in with my poults to start. They make great teachers showing the turkeys where the food and water are.

 

[jgiajnorio]

Great. This is very helpful. My laying hens are now on a game bird layer, can I start my turkeys on chick starter and feed then the same as the chicks and then hens as they mature?

 

[R2elk]

Great. This is very helpful. My laying hens are now on a game bird layer, can I start my turkeys on chick starter and feed then the same as the chicks and then hens as they mature?

You need to start the turkeys on turkey or game bird starter. They require a higher % protein than the chickens need. When starting chicks and poults together, I use turkey starter for all of them.

 

[flocksalot]

You need to start the turkeys on turkey or game bird starter.  They require a higher % protein than the chickens need.  When starting chicks and poults together, I use turkey starter for all of them. 

That's exactly what I do. Game bird starter. I think it might actually be a bit smaller crumble too which is better for them to start with.

I don't know anything about game bird layer mix. I feed my turkeys, ducks and geese feed specifically for the. I think some people use an all flock and then just provide oyster shell. Now that's not saying my turkeys won't follow me down the hill to the chicken coops and go eat the chicken feed. Grass is always greener you know.

 

[harrybird]

Can I raise turkey chicks with my chicken chicks in the same brooder at the same time?

From the miller hatcheries website:
Blackhead disease, or more correctly, histomoniasis, is primarily a disease of young turkeys. Chickens are more resistant to the effects of the infection but may act as carriers of the disease-causing organism. Histomoniasis is caused by a microscopic protozoan called Histomonas Meleagridis.

The protozoa-causing blackhead may remain infective within the eggs of the cecal worms in the soil for nearly three years; therefore each flock of new turkeys should be raised on new uncontaminated ground. Young turkeys should never be reared near older turkeys or with chickens that may carry the infection. In addition to domestic chickens, various wild birds such as pheasant and grouse may serve as reservoirs of infection for domestic turkeys.

 

[jgiajnorio]

Thanks everyone for all their help. This is all very useful. I plan on raising them together, away from my current hens until they are older and bigger. Since the chicks and turkeys come from the same hatchery, I'm hoping that may eliminate some of the concern for disease

 

[Celie]

It will because hatcheries have to be inspected and tested so they won't spread diseases. I also hatch out chicks with my poults. Only I hatch the chicks a few days before, so they are old enough to teach the poults and I remove them after the first week and brood the poults for at least 6 weeks before moving them to larger quarters. I do not put them outside until they are 8 to 12 weeks old, depending on the weather. When you first put them outside, put them where there is no danger of drafts or wet conditions.