Turkeys with Chickens?

[Theeggboxtoo]

We live in Alabama and want to raise turkeys, can we raise them safely with our chickens and ducks? Any help is appreciated.

 

[eggcited2]

I asked the very same question just about two years ago. I was told 'yes' you can and 'no' you can't.

I only had room and housing to put him in with my chickens (on about 3 acres of land). Things were going ok.

I did have a rooster that bullied my turkey and I ended up getting rid of the rooster (because of the bulling). It seemed as if my tom turkey started acting as if the hens were "his" more and more once I got rid of the rooster and he did not have anyone to challenge him.

Then a few weeks ago, he attacked a friend's 17 year old daughter. We thought it was the bling on her belt (it was covered with rhinestones and the sun made it flash and sparkle) cause he had never tried attacking anyone and had never even acted aggressive. But since then he has attacked me several and last time it was super vicious attack. I managed to beat him off and not get hurt myself. But I did notice he started chasing the chickens a lot and especially would be mean with them when he would try to attack me and I fended him off. He would turn his aggression on the chickens. I even ended up with one of my speckled sussex getting a hurt leg. (she is healing). Plus, he started wanting to get on top of them to mate. A turkey is way too big to be on top of a hen. No matter what breed of hen, no matter what size, etc. I knew the turkey had to go.

After seeing how things worked out in my case, I would never have a tom turkey in with chickens again.

Now as for my hen turkey, she has never been aggressive nor acted nasty to my hens. She has always acted as if she was just one of them. I am hoping it stays that way.

 

[noblehillfarm]

I have chickens,ducks,geese and turkeys all together and havent had any issues.My 2 tom turkeys help me round up the ducks and geese at night to get them locked in the barn.Everyone here gets along very well and right now I have a 3 turkeys and 3chickens in the same nest boxes incubating eggs when the chicken gets up the turkey takes over and vice versa

 

[endermom]

I've had a male and female turkey together with my chickens for over a year now. They sleep in the coop together at night and have the run of the yard during the day. A few things that I have noticed:

1. Tom helps round up the chickens at night and won't go in the coop until everyone else is in. He takes good care of his "girls".

2. Occasionally Tom gets a little overzealous at feeding time and chases the chickens out of his way. The female will do this as well. I also have seen him pick one up and actually throw it out of the way.

3. Tom also was involved in an unfortunate accident at feeding time a few weeks ago. As he headed for the food, one of my younger, smaller chickens got underfoot. We heard a screech and saw that Tom was eating away while actually standing on the chicken. He seemed completely oblivious to the fact that he was standing on anything. Unfortunately, the chicken didn't make it (Tom is HUGE). I really am hoping that this was truly an accident.

As for disease, we have had no problems at all. The biggest problem I currently have are the huge piles of turkey poo I find in the coop every morning. Those guys can really "go"!

 

[gypsygirl1421]

I had a Blue Slate that lived in a coop with my hens for 2 years. Other than being mildly aggressive during the breeding season, he was really no problem. Some times he would bully the lower ranking chickens pretty bad, but he never killed one. He would try to mount them once in a while but my hens always seemed to get away fine. I used to cut his nails just in case. He's lived with roosters to without problems. I think it depends on the personality of the one you get. Just like you can have really friendly roosters or roosters that are a holy terror. Of course, he was the only turkey and raised with chicks/chickens so he may not have known he was a turkey?

 

[syble]

so far mine are good, i have both chickens and turkeys. My friend has a breeding trio of beltvilles with assorted chickens(from day 1) and no problems, the tom is the sweetest thing too, doesn't like to be picked up but ok being petted and follows anyone around displaying, its cute!

 

[Frosty]

Since you live in Alabama, I would check with your state ag or other local people that raise turkeys. I believe Alabama was one state where I read had blackhead (histomoniasis). It can be carried by chickens with no symptoms. A lot of us raise them together with no problems, but those that do have problems have a lot of heartache.