[Eastling]

We are going to take on five 1 year old hens and have to take the turkey that lives with them.


It looks like they have scalley leg so going to give their legs a wash and apply Vaseline. Also will worm them and treat for mites just in case.


They are going to go out in an electric netted area, the turkey apparently sits on top of the hen house over night, we can put the netting out to include a tree for him to roost in overnight as the owner has said he wont sleep in a house.


I have a cockerel who i hope to add to the group i plan to do this at the same time as introducing the new hens to the new area. Will have to see how he gets on with the turkey stag.


Any advise on what else I will need to do. I know about blackhead in turkeys, but he has lived with them for a year and now signs. He also eats layers pellets is this okay ?

[Clansman]

Re the blackhead, its possible they just haven't been on contaminated ground or come into contact with infected birds.

Moving them to new ground and putting them in contact with new birds could introduce it, chickens are pretty resistant, younger turkeys not so much.

Keeping on top of the worming is your best bet.

Turkey will eat layers pellets, not ideal due to the high calcium levels etc and cost wise a bit of a waste of layers pellets feeding it to a turkey stag but he will live quite happily on them.

Mine are eating wheat, barely, maize and apples on the run up to Christmas but sounds like yours may not be a Christmas project?

Ideally i'd keep another turkey as company but as long as there are other birds there its probably not so much of a problem.

[Eastling]

Hi
The ground is a large field which has never had any birds on it as far as I know.
There would be only one new bird to the flock which would be our cockerel, as the our two hens decided to roost in a tree. I couldn't reach them so had to leave them. Despite being up at 6am the next morning and keeping an eye out for them missed the fox.
So hence getting new chickens who will now be enclosed within an electric net.


I have always wormed twice a year, ours were due so will do them all when we collect them, can I give the turkey the same wormer?
 The turkey is an adult and will be a keeper so will look into getting him a girlfriend  he is very sweet and good looking
I do know someone that has turkeys so will see if i could share some food. Would turkey food have any effect on the chickens?


Thanks for the info

[Clansman]

Chickens will eat turkey feed fine, might not lay the best on it though

I'd just keep them on the layers pellets and maybe put some wheat or other grain out, my turkeys would take wheat and maize before their proper turkey pellets.

Same wormer will be fine for the turkey, do you know what age he is?

mine are just starting to mate at 6 months so he might well be on the lookout for a lady Turkey

They can pick up blackhead from virtually anything, earthworms, wild bird droppings etc but if you are worming there shouldn't be a problem.

Some people keep turkeys with chickens for years without worming and never see it, some catch it straight away, its just your luck 

[Eastling]

Not sure of his age, ( he is taller than my lab )will ask when we collect him.  I have mixed corn but will look into getting some wheat and maize.


I think I probably worm our local wild birds, as they are always sneaking in the run and helping themselves!
   everyone gets on okay and the blackhead doesn't raise its head.


Thanks again for the advice

[Clansman]

yeah me too! 

They fly straight through the chicken wire and hardly miss a beat!

[Marches Farmer]

He'd probably really appreciate a wife!  Depending on how active he is you may need more than one, or to get a turkey saddle for the wife - an active stag will rub off the feathers from her back and constant treading will stop them growing back.  If he's fully mature make sure you get a fully grown female - they'll be able to cope with the weight.  I will have a couple of two year old Narragansett hens for sale next Spring, if you're near Herefordshire.

[Eastling]

Hi Marches Farmer


He is a Norfolk Black and i'm sure he would love a girlfriend or two! Yours look lovely, very pretty. We are on the East Kent coast so to far to have a couple of yours. Will look into saddles for any ladies we get as I had read about the feather damage that can be caused.


Thanks for the offer and info