Turkeys with Chickens?

[User 1234567]

Can I keep a turkey with my chickens? I want to fatten her before Thanksgiving.

 

[Coupe]

I always have....youll get people who do and people who dont.

 

[User 1234567]

Is there anything I have to worry about?
Fighting? disease etc etc

 

[deserthomestead]

I've been wondering the same thing. I'd like to raise just one or two turkeys for Thanksgiving, but I don't want them to get lonely..

 

[Terak]

You have to keep the turkeys on a higher protein feed than the chickens until they are 12 weeks old. Other than that just watch out for blackhead which the turkeys can get from the chickens, it's not harmful to the chickens but it will kill a turkey if not treated. There is a good thread on here about that.

 

[Coupe]

I raised my turkeys with my chickens, so i never had fighting, sense they grew up together.
Do you have a grown hen that has never been around chickens? She might peck the chickens and hurt them if she is not use to being around chickens...
Your best bet would to get young turkeys and raise them with the chickens.
As for diseases...there is a disease called black head in turkeys..i dont know much about it because iv never experienced..but i think it can be passed to chickens.not sure tho.

 

[Terak]

This is that thread about blackhead and how to treat it.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/134230/hope-this-saves-a-turkey-from-blackhead

 

[Coupe]

This is that thread about blackhead and how to treat it.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/134230/hope-this-saves-a-turkey-from-blackhead

Thanks for posting this! I couldnt remember if the turkeys carried it or of the chickens did!
But this is a must read, if you are going to raise chickens and turkeys together!

 

[User 1234567]

Thanks for the information everyone, this was definitely helpful. I can't wait to order a turkey now.

 

[casportpony]

Just remember that the drug used to treat histomoniasis (blackhead), metronidazole (fish-zole, Flagyl), is banned for use in food animals in the US.

-Kathy