Can chickens and turkeys live together?

One of the main ways to keep turkeys healthy is too NOT raise chickens and turkeys together. When turkeys and chickens are raised together, turkeys run a high risk of contracting the disease histomoniasis, also known as blackhead.

Do chickens and turkeys get along?

As far as personalities, our turkeys and chickens get along fine. The turkeys keep to themselves, and because they are slower and less frantic, they let the chickens eat first, then move in and take care of their needs.

Will turkeys protect your chickens?

Will turkeys protect chickens? Turkeys are not known to be good guard animals. They may be more aware of predators than chickens and have been known to fight a hawk but that is more to save themselves then chickens. Most turkeys will turn and run for shelter.

Do turkeys return to coop at night?

Once the poults outgrow their brooder, they will need a secure coop at night, just like any other type of poultry. If you raise your turkeys among chickens, then the turkeys may learn to go into the coop at night by following the example set by the chickens.

Will turkeys try to mate with chickens?

Chicken and turkey hybrids

There have been attempted crosses between domestic turkeys (Meleagris gallapavo) and chickens. According to Gray, no hybrids hatched in twelve studies. Other reports found only a few fertile eggs were produced and very few resulted in advance embryos.

Can You Raise Turkeys and Chickens Together? | A Farmish Kind of Life

Are turkeys aggressive towards chickens?

So, keeping the two in the same area really doesn't cause too much drama. In fact, turkey hens often act as a mediator of sorts amongst chickens. They have been seen breaking up fights, and in some cases, getting an unruly rooster under control.

What is the best animal to protect chickens?

The most common one to use to protect chickens is the goose. Geese are very territorial and can be quite aggressive. You don't need to train them to protect poultry like a dog, either. Even if the predator is too big for your goose to fight off, they can make enough racket to get your attention!

Do turkeys need a nesting box?

Turkeys are fairly easy animals to raise, requiring nothing more than food, water and simple shelter to thrive. Nest boxes are an essential feature for laying turkey hens, and can be simply built with just a little time and effort.

Can chickens and turkeys roost together?

Conventional wisdom says you should never keep turkeys and chickens together, because turkeys are susceptible to blackhead, a disease with devastating consequences. However, lots of backyarders raise chickens and turkeys together without a problem, and with some benefits.

Why do we not eat turkey eggs?

There are health and regulatory concerns with producing turkey eggs as well. Feed ingredients can be transferred from a turkey hen to an egg and the USDA must clear these ingredients as safe for human consumption. And while these ingredients have been cleared for chickens, they have not been cleared for turkeys.

What kind of coop Do turkeys need?

You'll need a minimum of 25 square feet of outdoor space per bird for them to exercise, with predator-proof fencing on all sides, as well as overhead. You'll also need a small shed for a turkey coop; an 8-by-10-foot structure is big enough to house a few birds.

Can you let turkeys free range?

The free-ranging can give the birds access to natural vitamins and nutrients they need. But it isn't enough to sustain them properly. Make sure you give your turkeys grain and grit along with their free ranging.

Will a tom turkey sit on eggs?

The hen doesn't incubate the eggs (sitting on them to keep them warm) until she's laid them all. Hens travel in a females-only flock, but they become more solitary and secretive in May when it comes to nesting.

What lives well with chickens?

Adult birds that can live with chickens are ducks, geese, guineas, peafowl and turkeys. Birds that are not yet adult size, game birds and all broilers need to be raised separately from adult chickens.

What time should you let your chickens out in the morning?

Normally around sunrise is best, but if your work schedule dictates that you leave before sunup, as long as your run is predator-proofed, you can open the coop door and the chickens will come out on their own when it gets light out.

Do Free Range Chickens need a run?

They will really be spending most of their time outside the coop and only using the inside area for the nesting boxes in the day and roosts at night. So for 4 chickens that free range, you only need a coop/run area that measures about: 4 by 4 feet (16 square ft).

Do turkeys lay eggs like chickens?

Just like chickens, turkeys lay eggs.

Do turkeys bond with humans?

A Fun Flock

They create long-lasting social bonds with each other and with humans. Turkeys love to be stroked, petted and cuddled. They will remember your face and if they like you, they will come up to you to greet you. Turkeys also love music and will cluck along with the songs.

Do turkey eggs taste the same as chicken eggs?

Turkey eggs are totally edible: Those who have backyard turkeys report their eggs taste remarkably similar to chicken eggs. They are slightly bigger, the shell slightly tougher, and the membrane between the shell and the egg slightly thicker, but otherwise, not too different.

Do turkeys eat more than chickens?

2. Turkeys eat more and need higher % protein. It's not surprising that a 25 lb tom turkey will need more food than a chicken.

Are turkeys aggressive?

Turkeys may attempt to dominate or attack people that they view as subordinates, and this behavior is observed most often during breeding season. They may also respond aggressively and peck shiny objects like windows or automobiles, interpreting their own reflection as an intruding turkey.

Do turkeys need a perch?

Turkeys require elevated roosting spots to spend the overnight hours, ideally with a sheltering roof to protect them from the elements. It is possible to build a single roost pen with space for several birds (a five-by-eight-foot roost will house about 20 turkeys) or you can build a set of roosts.