Keeping a pair of turkeys

[Idaspoultry]

Hello! I have had chickens for about a year and I love them very much. A couple weeks ago I got four turkeys, two black Spanish and two Narragansett. My plan is to butcher two of them and keep the others for eggs and pets. Can I keep just a pair of turkeys? Will the Tom hurt the hens back? I really want to keep this one Tom I've bonded with and a hen. What's your guys opinion on this I know nothing about turkeys! Thanks

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Yes you can keep a single Tom and hen. The hens solicit mating, so there isn't a risk of over mating like with chickens. I just wouldn't keep them with your chickens. They should have their own shed and run for the safety of your chickens.

Sometimes toms can tear up a hen during mating, but often it's because there's more than one Tom, or the Tom is inexperienced. It can help to keep his nails and spurs trimmed. We do ours about 2 times a year, spring and summer.

 

[Idaspoultry]

Yes you can keep a single Tom and hen. The hens solicit mating, so there isn't a risk of over mating like with chickens. I just wouldn't keep them with your chickens. They should have their own shed and run for the safety of your chickens.

Sometimes toms can tear up a hen during mating, but often it's because there's more than one Tom, or the Tom is inexperienced. It can help to keep his nails and spurs trimmed. We do ours about 2 times a year, spring and summer.

Thank you! They will be free ranging during the day and in a roomy coop at night. I have an extra rooster who I don't keep with the hens, he's super sweet and do you think that they could live together?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Some people have no troubles mixing the species, I haven't had much luck. Mine chase and harass chickens. Not every day, but enough that I'm happy I can lock my gang of Turkey thugs up. In the past a pair of toms killed a rooster they were raised with. I no longer raise them together. As long as the rooster can get away he should be okay.

 

[mandelyn]

Turkeys can be aggressive to roosters, and sometimes it's the rooster looking for a fight. Turkey Toms may go after chicken hens and do some damage, if they consider them flock. Spring time is when it's the most noticeable. I haven't had too much of an issue, had to split up the Toms, but my dominant Tom is still with a trio of chickens. He has his own hen and I haven't seen him doing more than display at the chickens. The rooster will defend my honor if the Tom comes at me. This particular Tom is on borrowed time, once the hen is done laying he's going to the freezer for coming after the humans too much.

You also need to keep an eye out for Black head, it's a disease that chickens can carry that is problematic to Turkeys. I've not encountered it yet, but it's out there.

I LOVE baby Turkeys, I have two more batches in the incubator and another batch to set still. Some of them act like puppies! Out of the last batch one in particular would jump out of the brooder and get to my shoulder to sit and chirp. So cute!

To be absolutely sure nothing happens to the chickens, it's not a bad idea to keep them separate, especially during Spring when the Toms get fired up. Usually by June/July they're sane again.

 

[ILuvMyFlock]

I have quite a few turkeys in various sizes from babies to adults, the young ones should be under a lamp until they're in their teens and even then they should be kept in their own enclosure until they're bigger.

If I may, I recommend not culling, turkeys are very loving if raised right, mine are so tame they'll let me pat them and even hold them. All of my birds get along together, I have Roos and hens, ducks, geese, Guineas and turkeys living together just fine.