my turkey pen has turned into a gladiator arena.
these are the first turkeys i've ever had, so it's been very "learn as you go." i've got 2 Bourbon Reds and 2 Royal Palms. i was thinking that one of the Bourbon Reds was a hen, but i'm pretty sure they're all boys now. they are somewhere between 3.5 and 4.5 months old.
today, the biggest, a Royal Palm, was herding the other Royal Palm. the big one was in constant body contact, wings extended like it was corralling the other one. it wasn't particularly aggressive but it was definitely up to something. the smaller one was just trying to get away. then, the bigger Bourbon Red decided to get in on the action and started fighting the bigger Royal Palm. then the little Bourbon Red, who i originally thought might be a hen, started fighting too! the only one that didn't want to fight was the smaller Royal Palm, the one that was getting herded.
so, would it be a pretty safe guess that they are all males and the hormones have started to kick in? should i be worried about the fighting? they aren't easy to break up- the water hose hardly phased them. i had to physically get between them to get their attention. their pen is next to the Silkie pen and there are 3 little Silkie girls, 2.5 months old, in there. could they be the cause of the drama?
these are the first turkeys i've ever had, so it's been very "learn as you go." i've got 2 Bourbon Reds and 2 Royal Palms. i was thinking that one of the Bourbon Reds was a hen, but i'm pretty sure they're all boys now. they are somewhere between 3.5 and 4.5 months old.
today, the biggest, a Royal Palm, was herding the other Royal Palm. the big one was in constant body contact, wings extended like it was corralling the other one. it wasn't particularly aggressive but it was definitely up to something. the smaller one was just trying to get away. then, the bigger Bourbon Red decided to get in on the action and started fighting the bigger Royal Palm. then the little Bourbon Red, who i originally thought might be a hen, started fighting too! the only one that didn't want to fight was the smaller Royal Palm, the one that was getting herded.
so, would it be a pretty safe guess that they are all males and the hormones have started to kick in? should i be worried about the fighting? they aren't easy to break up- the water hose hardly phased them. i had to physically get between them to get their attention. their pen is next to the Silkie pen and there are 3 little Silkie girls, 2.5 months old, in there. could they be the cause of the drama?