raising turkeys with chickens

The short answer is yes, you can raise turkeys and chickens together. We have for years. We also keep geese, ducks, and guineas with our chickens in the same coop and run. But before you head off to the feed store to buy a variety of poultry, there's a few more things you should know.

How do you introduce turkeys to chickens?

When they are about the size of a chick or larger then introduce them. But u have to first build a temporary wall of chicken wire. That way the turkeys a separate area for themselves. That way the chickens and turkeys can see each other and get used to each other without getting in fights.

Will turkeys kill chickens?

Turkeys And Chickens

In general, it is safest not to house male turkeys with female chickens, as they unfortunately have been known to accidentally kill chickens when attempting to mate with them.

Do turkeys scratch like chickens?

They're not frantic like chickens. They move more gracefully, eat cleaner, with less scattering of food, and they don't have the instinct to scratch like chickens.

Do turkeys need a coop?

Care and management. Turkey poults are raised very similarly to chickens. They will need to be kept in a brooder for the first six weeks and can then be transferred into a coop setting. Turkeys will need a larger area to grow than chicks due to their size, and size requirements will increase as the turkey grows.

Will turkeys kill each other?

Turkey will sometimes attack chickens, and both chickens and older turkeys will sometimes go after poults. It's best to keep poults away from adults until they are bigger. Even than you need to make sure they all can get away from each other. I haven't had any toms kill another Tom even though there's sometimes fights.

Will free range turkeys fly away?

Because turkeys are able to fly, those birds have been confined to the caged yard. We wanted to allow them free range in the fenced-in grassy area. However, because it has an open top, the turkeys would be able to fly away.

Why do we not eat turkey eggs?

Turkeys are bigger than chickens, so they take up more space and require more food. ... And they lay only two eggs a week, compared to a chicken's near-daily production, reports Modern Farmer. This adds up, so that in the rare instance a turkey egg is for sale, it's easily $2 to $3 a pop.

Do turkeys return to coop at night?

Turkeys will roost anywhere except where you want them to.

They would go in the coop at night with no problems and roost with the chickens.

Can chickens live with turkeys?

The short answer is yes, you can raise turkeys and chickens together. ... We also keep geese, ducks, and guineas with our chickens in the same coop and run.

Are turkeys louder than chickens?

Turkeys can be much louder than other fowl, as well as messier, and in tight neighborhoods, they may be less welcome. Turkeys do not generally lay many eggs, but they can be a great source of meat.

Why should you not eat turkey?

Top 10 Reasons Not to Eat Turkeys

Turkeys Are "People" Too. Turkeys have personalities, just as dogs and cats do. ...
Fear Factories. ...
Don't Be a Butterball! ...
Bird Flu Blues. ...
Turkey-Free, Cholesterol-Free Tasty Treats. ...
Want Stuffing With Your Supergerms? ...
Foul Farming. ...
Feed the World.

What should you not feed turkeys?

Things That Are Toxic To Turkeys

Blue-Green Algae.
Botulism.
Cedar Wood.
Hardware Disease.
Layer Or Breeder Food For Turkey Chicks (Poults)
Lead Toxicity.
Mycotoxins.
Pesticides, Herbicides, And Rodenticides.

How long does it take for a turkey to grow to full size?

The usual lifespan for a turkey is 10 years, and pure breed turkeys take approximately 4-5 months to grow to full size. The hen turkeys take 16 weeks to mature completely, and average 3.6 kg (8 lb) to 7.2 kg (16 lbs) in weight.

How many eggs do turkeys lay at a time?

Synchronous Hatching

A turkey hen lays one clutch of eggs per year, these clutches can as small as four to as large as 17 eggs per nest (that's a big clutch and that's cool fact #1)! The hen lays only one egg each day, so if she lays 14 eggs it takes two full weeks to lay the entire clutch.

Do turkeys eat ticks?

According to Wild Birds Unlimited, an adult turkey is one of the most voracious tick predators around, and an individual may eat 200 or more of these little critters in a given day. The Tick Encounter Resource Center reported that many species of bird feast on parasites.

Why are turkeys so mean?

1. They're strict adherents to the pecking order. Turkeys don't start beef with humans over territory. For them, it's all about the pecking order, and if you don't establish dominance on that first encounter, you're beneath the beast in its eyes.

What to do if a turkey chases you?

Here are some tips on what you should do if you ever are attacked by a wild turkey.

Don't back away. Stand your ground and do not let the turkey intimidate you. ...
Look big and threatening. Wave your arms, jacket, shirt or whatever else you have on you. ...
Make a lot of noise. ...
Charge the turkey. ...
Don't show fear.

How many tom turkeys can live together?

Oftentimes, several hens and their offspring will combine flocks, so it's quite common to see 50 or more birds together. The Cornell Lab or Ornithology reports that some winter flocks can consist of 200 turkeys.

Do turkeys poop a lot?

Size: As one of the largest Native birds in North America, the turkey requires more room than the normal back yard fowl. ... Mess: *(Manure) Like all birds, turkeys poop a lot, you could even say, “all the time”. The Turkey's high burning metabolism requires they eat often and what goes in, come out processed turkey style.

Where do farm turkeys sleep?

Where do domestic turkeys sleep? Turkeys roost in brooders inside poultry. While sleeping, they tuck the head around the neck to hide it under their feathers.

At what age can turkeys go outside?

Move Them Outside

Make sure they are fully feathered and at least eight weeks old before moving poults to their new outdoor housing. You can give them access to outdoors but still provide the lamp at night for a week or two, and then finally move them to their new, grown-up turkey roosts and pen.