More Poultry Tales

In my last chick and turkey post, I showed you our turkey yard into which we moved Mama Hen, her three chicks, and the three turkey poults. We kept them separated at first, but once they got used to each other, Dan removed the little barrier fence and gave them all run of the entire turkey yard. This worked pretty well for awhile, and then Dan decided that the turkeys were big enough to stretch their legs in the barn yard. Once they were allowed out there, they decided that they wanted to join the chickens and ducks in the large poultry yard. It became their mission in life! It didn’t take long before they found their way into the coop and started roosting there. 

Once the turkeys left the little yard, Mama Hen went missing. Evening came and when we took headcounts before securing everyone for the night, the two remaining baby chicks were alone and Mama Hen was gone. This was worrisome because the chicks were still quite little and we’d already lost one to a skunk. But where was Mama Hen? Dan searched the yard and I did a headcount in the coop. Sure enough, she was roosting in the coop. We would have put her back with the chicks, except we can’t tell the Speckled Sussex apart, so we didn’t know which one. Instead we put the chicks by themselves into the dog carrier for the night. The next morning, Dan moved them into the chicken tractor and they’ve been there ever since. One of the Sussex hens came to inspect the chicks the next morning. Was that Mama Hen? There was no sign of recognition on the chicks part, so we didn’t know. Nor do we have a clue as to why she abandoned them so early.

How well does a mixed flock of chickens, ducks, and turkeys get along? Amazingly well! I know human opinion is that they must be kept separated, but the birds themselves chose this in spite of our efforts to give every species their own space. And why not? Every ecosystem on earth grows toward a diverse population of species. Our poultry are only doing what’s instinctive. 

To add to that, I have to mention that the turkeys are absolutely lost without the chickens. They go there they go and do what they do. They become worried when they can’t find them. They pace and call until a chicken comes into sight and then they calm down again.

Schooster, our amazing Speckled Sussex rooster.

I think the key to to our poultry yard success is our rooster. We’ve had fairly good roosters in the past, but they usually tend to be territorial and even intolerant of anyone that isn’t part of their preferred circle. Admittedly, our chickens were pretty intolerant of the Muscovys when we only had the two females. That changed when we got a drake, and especially after our Muscovy ducks went broody and hatched ducklings. The chickens quickly learned to respect their space. When the turkeys moved into the poultry yard, every bird took it in stride. Every bird seems to know their place.

Every bird also listens to Schooster. He’s just as alarmist as the next rooster, but every bird knows what his cries mean and heeds him. One day he let out a warning and every bird ran for cover: chickens, ducks, and turkeys. It didn’t sound any different to us than some of the other squawks he makes, but Dan started scanning the trees and skies, and sure enough. A large broad shouldered hawk was in a tree overhead. It flew off when Dan spotted it.

To close out my update, here are a few short video clips I took. I’m not a very good videographer, but it’s fun to do, so maybe I’ll add that to my list of things I’m interested in learning about.