[Mel]

Hi all
I am hoping to have some Free range Turkeys in June to rear for Christmas,only around 10-one for each of the family

Any advice would be really appreciated,I have not had them before-though was raised on a farm and we had 10,000 back then and they were in huge barns.I am sure it has all changed since then so please throw all you have at me  . I have realised I have but one dilemma,and that is how to keep my laying hens about of the Turkey hut and eating their food-my hens are horrendous appetites,maybe I should section them off?

[princesspiggy]

chickens can pass blackhead onto turkeys which can make them ill, u wouldnt want them to share the same pasture 

[Hermit]

Yes , you need seperate runs for chooks and turkeys.Blackhead is a killer, dont even put the turkeys where chickens have been. I know of even wormed turkeys that have succumbed  and the next lot she bought cause she put them in the same pen!. If you read all the threads on turkeys and there has been alot lately you should learn a great deal. Mine are in the goat paddock and free range graze during the day. They get fed a breakfast before being let out and get a supper when they go in. The turkey stable is totally meshed in so the goats in the next stable cant get in to their food

[rip]

i have run turkey with chickens free range no problem, even shared the same house

[Hermit]

I used to rip, but then heard of more and more being lost to blackhead and locally so I dont risk it or advise anyone else to. There is no cure and once it is on your land then you have it. It does not affect chooks as they are more resiliant but turkeys are prone to it. So best to avoid mixing if you can even if they get on socially.

[Bright Raven]

I have always kept our small flocks separate from the chooks because of potential blackhead. Great birds, fun to keep free range. Lovely meat. Very smelly though, especially at the chick stage. They always reward you with lots of chat, but you will need to get them in every night, they don't seem to have the homing instincts of chickens.