poultry variety help

[bee_pipes]

We have guineas and regular chickens now, less than 6 months old and still on starter. Next year I'd like to try a turkey or two.

Does anyone raise a variety of poultry? To simplify things, it would be nice to keep them in the same pens and feed them all the same thing. Does anyone do this? All the "experts" go on at length about the importance of a diet tailored to the animal - are there any alternatives?

We're growing these critters for personal consumption, not to sell or run a business, if that makes a difference. Eggs and meat.

Any suggestions or experiences would be great to hear.

Regards,
Pat

[bee_pipes]

Thanks - that's most reassuring. The idea is to let them out to graze during the day and lock them up at night. That really simplifies it. When chicks, they would be easier to isolate. They seem to be getting along pretty well out of the pen, though the guineas seem to be doing most of the chasing. The chickens (orpingtons) are getting big, and I think the balance of power may be tipping their way soon. The roosters are quite handsome. We shall see how the turkey mixes when big enough to hold his own.

Thanks again! That really helped.
Regards,
Pat

[Northwoods_Hippie]

In my poultry book it says that you should never raise Turkeys in close quarters with Chickens, same disease as with Ducks the Blackhead disease.

The poultry book I have is older, written in the 50's I believe. I would get you the name of it but it is on the bookshelf in my bedroom and the BF is still sleeping and I don't want to wake him.

I will post the name of the book later, sorry!

Margie

[pancho]

Much of the information about poultry is very outdated. Ducks can be fed medicated feed. The formula and additives were by law changed many years ago. If you buy your feed out of the U.S. it may apply but not to any sold inside the U.S. in many years.
Along with the domestication of birds we have bred in the ability to live and produce on just about any type of feed. For an all around feed for all types of poultry the layer pellets along with a few grains is sufficient. These are fine for the mixed home flock. If you specialize in a certain type of poultry your feed will need to be specialized also. All types of poultry will benefit from added vegetables and greens.
Poultry is the easiest animal to raise. Just do not overcrowd and there will not be any problems, even with a mixed flock of chickens, turkeys, guineas, ducks, and geese.

[deerhunter1362]

if u have any questions ask me, I live in the poultry capital of the world, and I have 5 chicken houses and I sell to con agra

[Faye]

Deerhunter, there is a world of difference in our home flocks and your chicken farm. *There are huge chicken farms around here and one of my SIL worked in them for a long time. *Everyone should get to visit one of those places just once and see what they are like.
Deerhunter, did not mean to sound like I was jumping on you, I just hate to see creatures have to live like they do on these farms. We also have a couple pig farms around here.