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Barnyard Buddies:  Chickens and Turkeys  |
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MEWolf
True Blue Farmgirl
358 Posts
Margaret
Byers
Colorado
USA
358 Posts |
 Posted - Sep 02 2011 : 2:45:19 PM
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Hi Chickies! I have a question for all you Fowl savvy Farmgals. We are thinking about getting some Turkeys. We already have three Chickens who enjoy a large coop and run. They also "free range" a bit. Here's my question, can Turkeys and Chickens be kept together? Or do they require separate coops and runs? Thanks in advance for answering my question!
Margaret
“Kind hearts are the gardens, kind thoughts are the roots, kind words are the flowers, kind deeds are the fruits. Take care of your garden and keep out the weeds, fill it with sunshine, kind words and kind deeds.” ~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1808-1882)
Farmgirl #3020
www.grey-wolf-farm.com |
Edited by - MEWolf on Sep 02 2011 4:18:04 PM |
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farmmilkmama
True Blue Farmgirl
2027 Posts
Amy
Central MN
USA
2027 Posts |
Posted - Sep 02 2011 : 3:28:28 PM
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I have been wondering this as well, for future use. I was told by one person that turkeys are too mean to be kept with chickens, but then I visited a friend who had hers all living together. Maybe it depends on the birds?
--* FarmMilkMama *--
Farmgirl Sister #1086
Be yourself.
Everyone else is already taken.
-Oscar Wilde
www.farmfoodmama.blogspot.com
www.thehmmmschoolingmom.blogspot.com |
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oldbittyhen
True Blue Farmgirl
1511 Posts
tina
quartz hill
ca
USA
1511 Posts |
Posted - Sep 02 2011 : 4:04:24 PM
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I never mix them for many reasons, one being size differance, especially the toms, which will fight with chickens as they tend to be territorial, also disease, and then if you are butchering, the stress you put on the chickens when you are grabbing the other is hard on them, plus the food differance also...
"Knowlege is knowing that a tomato is a fruit, Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad" |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Sep 02 2011 : 5:33:11 PM
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My turkeys and chickens run together. My tom is actually afraid of the rooster. The roo lets him know even though he's bigger, he can still whoop him. I feed them together but end up letting the turkeys out because the chickens are very greedy. So then I have to feed the turkeys over again when they get out. The turkeys are 14 months old and very friendly. I am trying to sell them though because they have to be in everything. Right in the middle of it. They are sweet birds though. One of the turkey hens is sitting on a nest so in about 3 more weeks we will have some more little ones to sell too.
You just have to do what feels right to you. I have heard when I first got the turkeys, to not keep them with chickens because of some disease they can get form the chickens that's really horrible and will kill them. White lung or something. But I have not lost any to that.
But as far as turkeys being mean with chickens, it's the other way around here.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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rksmith
True Blue Farmgirl
858 Posts
Rachel
Clayton
GA
USA
858 Posts |
Posted - Sep 03 2011 : 05:18:44 AM
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We keep our turkeys and chickens together and have not had any problems at all.
Rachel
Farmgirl Sister #2753
Do not ask the Lord to guide your footsteps, if you are not willing to move your feet--Dr. Kioni
http://madame1313.wordpress.com/ |
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Dusky Beauty
True Blue Farmgirl
1108 Posts
Jen
Tonopah
AZ
USA
1108 Posts |
Posted - Sep 10 2011 : 6:04:37 PM
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Turkeys get something fatal called "blackhead" from chicken poop. You can vaccinate them for it and if you do that it will never be a problem, some hatcheries even innoculate your poults before shipping if you pay for the shots, or you can just make sure your turkeys never come in contact with chicken feces.
"The greatness of a nation and it's moral progress can be judged by the way it's animals are treated." ~Gandhi
http://silvermoonfarm.blogspot.com/
"After eating an entire bull, a mountain lion felt so good he started roaring. He kept it up until a hunter came along and shot him. The moral: When you're full of bull, keep your mouth shut.” ~Will Rogers |
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sherrye
True Blue Farmgirl
3775 Posts
sherry
bend in the high desert
oregon
USA
3775 Posts |
Posted - Sep 10 2011 : 8:25:16 PM
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yes jen is right on about the disease. my turkeys got it. i had to kill and bury them. so it can happen. i think size of area makes a big difference. out running around free range may not be an issue. mine were penned in a yard and coop. very sad for us and the birds were very sick. sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
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Barnyard Buddies: Chickens and Turkeys |
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Chickens and Turkeys
