Ohiofarmgirl'sAdventuresinTheGoodLand-where ya been? whatcha been doin

[TanksHill]

Thank you both for all the great information!!!

So here's my next question. When I buy chicks (4 weeks old), or pullets I have a wood play house 5 x 7 bedded heavy with shavings and the two glass windows stay mostly closed. I cover the little out door with a crate and they stay inside for a good week or so. There is no electricity so no heat lamp. As they get bigger they have free access to attached run. Then when the hens are at laying age I move them up hill to my main coop. I do a stealth sneak them on the roost at dusk move and all is well.

Now, when I went to my feed store couple days ago my intent was to buy chicks and stick them under a broody hen I have. Well at least I think she is. She sits all day and fusses and squawks when you take her eggs. They did not have anything I wanted so I decided to pass. But they do have the turkeys.

I would love for all the birds to be in one coop and run but do not want my turkeys to get sick. If I put them in the lower smaller house will they be warm enough. Heck this is So Cal. I have never had electricity in any of my coops. The house is 5 x 7 and the run 8 x 16. It's Fort Knox and I have never lost anything from it. So maybe I put 5 turkeys in there. Keep them in the house for a week to stay warm. Let them explore the run and when they are several weeks old I have two options.

Leave them there and allow to free range OR bring them up to main coop and try to integrate with the hens. Or would it be better to stick them under the broody mom and start them with the hens? The thing is my hens free range everywhere. Including my neighbors orchard. My property is not fenced. So I need the turkeys to come home mostly on their own.

Sorry if I am making this complicated. I just want to be sure.


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[Dace]

Wow OFG, I learned so much in that post that I am tempted to run to Gina's feed store! Too bad I don't have room

Sorry about the MIL, they can be tough to take sometimes. Just keep smilin' girl!

 

[TanksHill]

You better stop by my house Dace if your coming North!!

 

[Dace]

How about I just stop by for turkey dinner?

 

[ohiofarmgirl]

nope! you're not making it complicated. i think this is your best option as they may be too old for a broody to take.

I would love for all the birds to be in one coop and run but do not want my turkeys to get sick. If I put them in the lower smaller house will they be warm enough. Heck this is So Cal. I have never had electricity in any of my coops. The house is 5 x 7 and the run 8 x 16. It's Fort Knox and I have never lost anything from it. So maybe I put 5 turkeys in there. Keep them in the house for a week to stay warm.

they are probably right on the edge of needing heat. probably just watch and see what they need. turkey tend to get in a heap so you dont want them to get chilled. maybe in the house during the day and inside at nite?

 

[TanksHill]

oh, wait. Not my house. The little chicken house. I re read that and it seemed a bit off.

My feed store has an area they call, off the ground. It's raised cages where they put the pullets. If the turkeys are in there I think I am good to go. There not heated and the birds would be acclimated. Of course buying from there the cost almost doubles.

Hummm!! Do you think the younger birds would be ok if I locked them in the little chicken house. It stays pretty warm in there. But that piling thin worries me.

 

[freemotion]

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also, Free said that she checked with her local extension agency as blackhead tends to be regional (is that right?) and you either have it or you dont.

Yep, actually it was Turkey Steve who told me to check with them...it ended up being our local ag university, as I couldn't find an extension service in my state. No known blackhead here, and my two BR's have been running with my chickens for a couple of years, eating us out of house and home and producing SQUAT, I might add.....

 

[lorihadams]

Could you do a movable hoop house and put them in the pasture, would that work for turkeys? Maybe I could convince hubby.....

 

[TanksHill]

I think that's exactly what one of those links said. Maybe the Mother Earth article. I am not sure I have been swimming in turkey info the past couple days so it's all blending together.

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[bibliophile birds]

mine turkeys are in a tractor. they are doing well. the main problem is that they grow so much faster than chickens and they get quite a bit taller... i seriously need to build a new, taller tractor soon.