Although it has long been advised against raising turkeys with chickens, many homesteaders are returning to a mixed flock strategy. Maintaining a mixed flock has many great advantages, but there are also significant risks to the health of the birds involved.
Let’s give you the information you’ll need to make that decision, and a few pointers in case you decide that raising turkeys with chickens is for you. The most important question a flock owner needs to answer is, what are the risks and do the benefits outweigh them?
Yes, turkeys and chickens can live together in the same coop and run, but there are some important considerations to make before doing so.
Benefits of Raising Turkeys and Chickens Together:
- Cost savings: You can use the same coop and run for both turkeys and chickens, which can save you money.
- Reduced feed costs: Turkeys and chickens can eat the same type of feed, so you can buy one type of feed for both species.
- Complementary behaviors: Turkeys can help to protect chickens from predators, and chickens can help to keep the coop clean.
- Increased biodiversity: A mixed flock can be more interesting and enjoyable to watch.
Challenges of Raising Turkeys and Chickens Together:
- Space requirements: Turkeys are larger than chickens, so you will need to make sure that your coop and run are large enough to accommodate them.
- Feeding requirements: Turkeys have different feeding requirements than chickens, so you will need to make sure that they are getting the right amount of protein.
- Disease concerns: Turkeys can carry diseases that can be harmful to chickens, so it is important to keep them separated if possible.
- Social interactions: Turkeys can be aggressive towards chickens, so it is important to monitor them closely and separate them if necessary.
Here are some tips for raising turkeys and chickens together:
- Provide enough space: Make sure that your coop and run are large enough to accommodate both turkeys and chickens. A good rule of thumb is to allow at least 4 square feet per chicken and 10 square feet per turkey.
- Feed them separately: If possible, feed your turkeys and chickens separately so that they can get the right amount of protein. Turkeys need a higher protein diet than chickens.
- Monitor them closely: Watch for any signs of aggression or disease, and separate the turkeys and chickens if necessary.
- Introduce them slowly: If you are introducing new turkeys to your flock, do so slowly and gradually. This will help them to adjust to their new surroundings and reduce the risk of aggression.
Overall, raising turkeys and chickens together can be a rewarding experience. However, it is important to be aware of the challenges involved and to take steps to mitigate them.
Here are some additional resources that you may find helpful:
- Can Turkeys, Ducks, and Chickens Raise and live together? (Azure Farm Life)
- Raising Turkeys with Chickens – Is it a Good Idea? (Backyard Poultry)
Frequently Asked Questions
Can turkeys and chickens eat the same food?
Yes, turkeys and chickens can eat the same type of food. However, turkeys need a higher protein diet than chickens, so you may need to supplement their feed with additional protein.
Can turkeys and chickens share the same waterer?
Yes, turkeys and chickens can share the same waterer. However, it is important to make sure that the waterer is large enough to accommodate both species.
Can turkeys and chickens sleep in the same coop?
Yes, turkeys and chickens can sleep in the same coop. However, it is important to make sure that the coop is large enough to accommodate both species. You may also want to provide separate nesting boxes for the turkeys and chickens.
Can turkeys and chickens breed?
Yes, turkeys and chickens can breed. However, the offspring will be sterile.
Raising turkeys and chickens together can be a rewarding experience. However, it is important to be aware of the challenges involved and to take steps to mitigate them. By following the tips above, you can help to ensure that your turkeys and chickens live together happily and healthily.
Raising Turkeys with Chickens
Many people who wind up raising turkeys with chickens do so accidentally, or coincidently as it may be. I’ve been raising turkeys with hens for a number of years, but I never intended to do it; it just so happened.
Maybe you decided to try turkey eggs instead of Thanksgiving turkey, or maybe all you wanted was a new living yard decoration. Whatever their excuse or circumstance, anyone considering raising turkeys alongside chickens must acknowledge the possible health hazards.
Unlike when keeping goats with chickens, chickens and turkeys can share diseases. When raising turkeys with chickens, histomoniasis, also known as blackhead disease, is a concern. Blackhead, named after the dark coloring of the face it causes, is a disease that both chickens and turkeys can contract.
Turkeys are highly susceptible to black head, unlike their chicken counterparts. Any turkey that contracts the illness will probably die from it, and there isn’t much that can be done without a veterinarian’s advice.