Advice Needed re: Turkeys & Chickens co-habiting!

[Amy]

Please can someone advise me...a friend has bought me a stag turkey as a gift for my birthday. He is a cross between an American and something else (not sure!). He is arriving in 6 weeks (eek!) and I want to make sure he can live with my chickens and ducks?

Can they all sleep together? I have just ordered a very large hen hut so there will be plenty of room for him.

Can he share their run? At the moment it is 140 m2 but is being extended next week so we can put a slightly larger pond in for the ducks.

I have been told that turkeys carry bacteria that is leathal for chickens but the person who told me was vague and did say they were not 100% sure if that was factual or not?!? Some sites I have found say they can co-habit others say never put turkeys and chickens together.

Once he is large enough to stand up to our naughty Jack Russell, I will bring him out of the pen then he can wander around the garden and field then just go and sleep back in the hen hut at night?!?!

This 'gift' has sort of been dumped in my lap (I think they were trying to wind my husband up more than anything!) but he has been paid for etc and I do love them!

Please can anyone advise?

Thanks!

 

[Davidd]

Hello Amy, turkeys can get Blackhead- chickens are less prone to it -but if he is adult then he should be ok. I would try and keep him separate if you can- you really need to get him a hen or two and free range them - giving them their own shed to sleep in at night- if you can get them in-they will roost up the tallest trees
Some stags can become a bit nasty -especially in the breeding season- all the ones i had were very gentle- (norfolk blacks-and all gone last Xmas :shock: ) good luck
regards, David

 

[Amy]

Hi David
Thanks for your reply

He is only going to be a few weeks old when I get him?!?
Can he be vaccinated against Blackhead?
When you say hens, I guess you mean turkey females??! I dont want him to breed as I want him for a pet not to eat! And I couldnt keep all his off-spring and wouldnt let anyone else eat them!
I will have a spare shed when my new one arrives that he can sleep in but I didnt want him to get lonely or cold in winter with no one to snuggle with?
I dont want to free range him until he is older (and larger) as I have 3 very naughty dogs...a working labrador who likes to catch flying birds for fun, a lurcher who likes to chase anything with legs and a Jack Russell who likes to terrorise, torture then kill! Was going to wait until he was massive and could defend himself!
Would he attack my hens when he decided to bread if we just had him?

 

[Davidd]

hello, if he is only young- then you must keep him away from your hens- he may get blackhead- no vaccinations- most people don't raise turkeys on ground which has had chickens on it- they are very prone to catch Blackhead- also , it's no very fair to keep a young turkey on his own- can you not get at least two? you don't have to breed from them- you can eat the eggs- they are great for cakes He will be much happier with some company of his own
regards, David

 

[Amy]

Good grief. What a pickle! I dont think my husband will let me take any more of our land for the turkey(s). If I got 2 turkeys, how much square meter space would you recommend to give them? Also, could they live side by side with chickens (just wire mesh seperating them)? I could put an add-on onto the run maybe where the chickens have not been?

 

[Davidd]

Hi amy, give them as much, clean (chicken free) ground as possible when young- once big enough you can let them free range with the chickens , ducks etc- you just need to keep them away if they are only babies- until they are nearly fully grown- they are great fun and will become very tame
regards, David

 

[Amy]

Thanks David, how old is classed as full grown/adult?

 

[Anne W]

I have 3 female turkeys - they will be about 9 months now. I had them from 4 months and have given them their own patch to wander - away from chickens. I know some people keep them together and say it's ok as long as they are wormed regularly - but I also know those who have kept them together and the turkeys have developed blackhead. I chose to play it safe.

I agree that yours will need more of it's own kind - as with all livestock - my 3 are so bonded that thay make such a fuss if one is missing - I think because they are so bonded shows that you need more than one. I gave mine a dog kennel - the large type - with a run for when it's pouring down with rain. They just amble around the back garden and are real characters - running to me when I go out ( yes! I know it's for food but I pretend it isn't :lol: ) They do eat some of my plants although they don't eat all of the plant - so I tell myself it's been pruned . You can probably guess I'm crackers about my turkeys - get some more - you won't regret it