Quail_Antwerp: Words from the Barnyard...

[Quail_Antwerp]

Did I just read that Sephira was sold? Or did you have more than one slate turkey hen?

Yes, she was sold. and no, I didn't have more than one.

 

[Quail_Antwerp]

Just got home from Becca's. Her mom had a small get together at their house for Becca's birthday. It was really nice and simple.

On the way home we saw - as in almost hit - a skunk on our road! A half mile from our house! E says, "He's heading our way to find your chickens."

I was startled that he said that and I told him, "Don't say that!!"

Not 50 feet up the road - we see a coon. DANG!

Not 20 feet from our driveway - a possum!!

That's too many vermin on my road in one night! I don't think I'll sleep much tonight. I'm going to be worried about my poultry!

Soon as he stopped the van I was out and running for the poultry pens to make sure everyone was alright.

I think I'm going to have to go off my rocker on those vermin.

We did get another Sebbie egg. I took it to Becca for her 'bator. I'm getting roughly 1 Sebbie egg every other day. I'm sure looking forward to when they start laying daily.

Sold a half dozen Cuckoo Maran eggs today.

Soon as I get all of my working figured out, I'm going to start putting some eggs on eBay I think.

 

[FarmerDenise]

Do we get first dibs?

 

[gettinaclue]

Hey Quail,

I have a question for ya. Could I keep ducks and turkeys in the same pen together?

I know I can't keep chickens and turkeys together, but what about ducks and turkeys?

 

[Farmfresh]

I know I can't keep chickens and turkeys together, but what about ducks and turkeys?

What!! You need to tell my chickens and turkeys that!

Actually the reason that turkeys and chickens are NOT supposed to be raised even on the same place, is disease. Turkeys are susceptible to a disease called blackhead (Histomonas melagridis). Chickens can be carriers of the disease that can plague the turkeys. In a clean healthy flock there is not a problem. As long as they get along with each other. I always raise my turkey poults with chicks. I think the chicks help the turkeys which are little and kind of slow learners, learn to eat and drink faster. Since they are raised together from day one they seem to get along quite well.

Of course I don't keep them very long. I just raise my turkeys for the freezer.

I personally would NOT keep turkeys and ducks together. They simply have too different of needs. Turkeys require a higher protein diet and ducks have different water needs. Even in a pen ducks MUST be able to submerge their heads in their water. It is how they keep their eyes and nostrils clear. Also ducks can not eat medicated feed of any kind. It poisons them.

 

[gettinaclue]

Thanks FF!

My concern is for blackhead disease. Not sure if I'm being over cautious by seperating them. Books always say one thing about a certain thing, when I've had experience with it they way it is said NOT to do it (ie - turning canning jars upside down - my family does this) and it works just fine.

I just can't find anything anywhere listing a pros and con sort of thing. I know ducks need water - but would this be a problem for the turkeys? Would a turkey get nasty with the ducks and flog them? They may or may not be raised together. We won't be doing this until next year probably - so just trying to get a small handle on things.

 

[Quail_Antwerp]

Do we get first dibs?

On eggs? or the eBay auctions I'm going to be listing??

I spose I could list hatching eggs for sale here in BST, right? hmm...

gettinaclue, I'm with FF, no turkeys and ducks together.
But, if I'm to be completely honest, I have some chickens in the duck/goose pen right now all living happily together. As soon as that pond thaws out, tho, the chickens will have to move out.

I feed pelleted duck grower mixed with cracked corn to my large ducks and geese. The calls just get the pelleted duck grower.

My turkeys have always flown in and out of all the pens at random -the only dangerous pen for my turkeys is the pen of Embdens. We've had to rescue both the bourbon red and the royal palm tom from the murderous Zeus on several occassions.

I think if we let it go on, Zeus would be a turkey killer. Although, he tolerated chickens just fine.

This morning I woke up and headed out to check for early morning eggs...collected the usual Rouen Duck egg, one chicken egg, and had an early morning stand off with a Sebbie Gander. He tried to bite me, I nudged his head away - none of the grab on and beat down like Zeus gave me. The Sebbie backed down fairly easily, but while I was distracted, my Speckled Sussex roo took this as his que to flog me from behind!

So I played a little rooster soccer this morning. Don't think that dude will make that mistake again.

Hope ya'll have a great Sunday! We're going to be heading to church in a bit and maybe Lowes....we're starting a project...and when we get home I gotta check and make sure all the kiddos finished their school work for the week.

 

[gettinaclue]

Thanks Quail!

 

[ohiofarmgirl]

I have a question for ya. Could I keep ducks and turkeys in the same pen together?

I know I can't keep chickens and turkeys together, but what about ducks and turkeys?

i'll throw in another NO NO NO NO

here's why: ducks are really wet even if all they have is a bucket or a kiddie pool - they make lots of mud. mud breeds the little buggers that cause cocci... ducks are fine, turkeys flop over dead, lots of crying.

also remember that poults are really delicate compared to ducklings and chicks... they really cant get chilled, even by walking thru damp grass.

 

[Dace]

Happy Sunday Aly

Hope it is a good one