[uba]

Hello all,

We have just been watching one of the great british food episodes, the turkey one. They were talking to some commercial growers but also a guy that kept just a few birds in a large garden with his chickens, I thought I read somewhere ages ago that you cant keep both chickens and turkeys because one lives alongside a type of parasite that is fatal for the other. It was reading this snippet of information that made us dismiss the idea of having a couple of turkeys.

 Can anyone confirm this? I really cant remember where it was I read about it.

[kegs]

I don't know a lot about it and have never raised turkeys but this article explains that chickens are carriers of Blackhead disease but are more resistant to it than turkeys.

http://www.millerhatcheries.com/Information/Diseases/blackhead_disease.htm

[min200]

They can carry bugs that can cause harm to each other. Having said that mine have always lived very happily together  

[uba]

The article was a good read thanks Kegs and on the other hand Min you have no problems so I dont really know. My wife would prefer ducks, turkeys was my choice so maybe we will think about going for a few ducks instead to be on the safe side for now. Just until we get ourselves an enormous country estate somewhere with space for all LoL

thanks all

[ANHBUC]

I have had the same thoughts and am more drawn to ducks.  Have got the o.k. from my hubby but am still unsure as keep being warned how messy they are compared to hens.  Still doing research and will probably get Muscovy ducks if I do decide to get some.

[uba]

I'd be interested to hear how you get on with them anhbuc, I heard they are messy too but I would only be after maybe three in total and I keep my animals really clean as I am paranoid about attracting rats lol

[ANHBUC]

Have been doing loads of research on the net and am still drawn to the muscovy, less noisy, less messy (but still messy!), love eating bugs and slugs/snails.  They can roost unlike most other breeds and their meat has less fat.  Will probably visit a few breeders to assess whether I have enough room for them and how messy they really are.  Will try not to come back with ducks, but am not making any promises!! 

[helens-hens]

I quite like the idea of turkeys (though space in the hen house might pose a slight problem so don't think I'll be getting any!).

I remember Hillfooter mentioning that he found his turkeys friendlier than hens and this was also commented on by the man who kept them as pets alongside his chickens.

Found an interesting link here which also mentions about the blackhead disease http://www.turkeyclub.org.uk/?file=kop3.php