PART 5 BIRDS OF A FEATHER FLOCK TOGETHER If you’re a bird enthusiast, there’s no need to pick favourites. There are a number of birds that will happily mix with chickens and have very similar care and feeding requirements. As always, before you start looking to diversify your flock, make sure to check local Council regulations. Following is a short introduction to other breeds of birds that are great to keep with chickens. If you’d like more detailed information on how to care for these other types of birds, it’s best to approach a breeder, poultry club or experienced enthusiast. Housing Turkeys are the gentle giants of the poultry world and need a little more space, but otherwise their housing requirements are very similar to those of chickens. If you’re keeping chickens with the turkeys, you will need individual nesting boxes so that the chickens feel comfortable laying eggs around their much larger cousins. TURKEYS Choice of birds A number of heritage breeds make colourful additions to a backyard flock, including the bronze wing, slate and bourbon red. Turkeys are best purchased when mature. Unlike chicken chicks, newborn turkeys cannot tend to themselves and need hours of hands-on care before they can feed and drink on their own. Take care, as always, to purchase turkeys from reputable breeders. 46 | THE CHOOK BOOK