I am a beginner when it comes to chickens. I have kept horses and dogs most of my life. My husband has kept birds all his life in addition to various animals. Recently, and very foolishly, I acquired a baby turkey. I was at the farm store with intentions of getting a few egg laying gals and then I saw the 50% off bin. I would like to blame pregnancy for my uncontrollable urge to buy this turkey - having zero knowledge of turkeys other than they make the "gobble gobble" sound. No idea on sex of this turkey. I am aware that I have purchased a white breasted turkey a.k.a. a meat bird. Of course, I did my research after the fact and learned I am now in for it.
Yes, you can judge me. Yes, I deserve a smack on the hand. It is not advisable to buy any animal with so little research. Now that I'm here, let's get to the elephant in the room.
I relocated to the suburbs in my small town just a few months ago. Our city allows us to keep up to 6 hens. We had dreams of a very small flock in the backyard with a coop and all the accouterments of chicken keeping. We wanted eggs. Maybe meat if one chicken decided to be especially troublesome in the flock.
I currently have two Rhode Island Reds and two Easter Eggers. And of course - a turkey of unknown sex..
We all know the black head disease the turkey is at risk for. And ive read even keeping turkeys on land used by chickens - despite an absence of chickens - can still make turkeys susceptible.
I have a backup plan for this turkey (a good friend with a ranch who is an experienced keeper of birds).
But if I were to play matchmaker in this mixed flock, what kinds of precautions can I take? Can the chickens be dewormed to lessen the risk? Are there supplements I can provide?
Ultimately, the turkey moves on if there is no ethical or healthy way to keep this bird.
End game for this bird will be meat regardless. But if I cannot get this turkey safely growing and thriving, I will make other arrangements in the interest of ethical animal stewardship.
Has anyone mixed a turkey into their flock and what was your experience? I am not looking fot pats on the head or coddling. Be brutally honest.