Turkeys and chickens

[ChickenCurt]

Cleanliness is the key. Mobile coops during warm months if there is space available. Fresh straw/bedding daily if they are stationary. Clean sand for bathing helps. Mixing cooped population, i.e. rabbits and chickens or whatever is safe and works. Poo is diseases growing place and mixing animals confuses pathogens and clean conditions eliminate a foothold. Wash coops down yearly; many use bleach but hydrogen-peroxide is safer.

 

[maxpedley]

The only problem is however much you clean if one of your birds gets blackhead they will all get it. Simply removing poo is not enough. Their is a huge chance your chickens already have blackhead disease.

 

[ChickenCurt]

Nothing is a guarantee, I may get pneumonia tomorrow and nothing can stop it but I still do things to prevent it. The best preventer of the disease is mobility; move roosts, move waterers and move food. But don't be an absentee farmer, look for obvious signs of not eating and wait loss. If you suspect infection take the bird to a vet. But no, my vet checked my flock and we're clean to date.

 

[FarmalI]

Ok, thanks for all your input....Is there a breed of turkey that you would recommend?

 

[ChickenCurt]

I have best luck with the bourbon red here in the desert, broad breasted did ok but didn't handle the heat; if I would have butchered them for the meat I think I would have been okay but I am dabbling in breeding to see if it is my niche or not. Check locally to what works in your climate or experiment and try a variety. My bourbons have been the tastiest to date. Best of luck.

 

[FarmalI]

thank you all very much.