Brown Bourbon Turkey

Hello! I wanted to know if anyone else has experienced this or can tell me if something is wrong.

I have 20 hens (all different kinds) and a Brown Bourbon Turkey (Jake). He (the Turkey) is a year and 4 months old. He is kind of my guard dog for my girls. He watches out for them at night. He roosts on the roof of the chicken coop and we lock the girls up at night. Oh and I forgot to tell you that he is very vocal. You cannot normally get a word in edge wise with him.

Earlier this year I lost several of my hens to Coccidiosis, so sad But since I have really good girls that lay lots of eggs, I never replenished my birds. Well, I decided that I wanted to purchase about 15 Rhode Island Reds and did so. They came last Thursday. I have them in my 3 door rabbit hutch, which is in the chicken run and also where the coop is (it's a good size area). The hutch is in there because we had my son's show rabbits in there up until about 1 month ago, and since he didn't show them anymore, we decided to give them to a couple for their grandchildren. So away went the rabbits and in came 15 RIR. That turkey stayed up all night Thursday night, roosted on the bar below the rabbit hutch and broke his neck to check out those babies. Since I have brought those babies home, he no longer talks. If you talk to him, he won't gobble. If you talk to the chickens, he won't gobble. Now as I said he was VERY VOCAL. He also goes in the coop at night with the girls and never did before (only of course if it was -15 degrees).

I just don't know what to think about this. I hope he is not sick I wondered if he was mad because I brought home babies?

If anyone has any idea of what may be going on with him, please let me know.

Thank you so much!

Sheri

Turkeys are very curious and intelligent, he's probably reacting to the peeping sound, they are babies, a part of his flock so he is watching out for them, that's what I think, the not gobbling could be he doesn't want to frighten them or another thought, he doesn't want to draw in other males who may kill his chicks, this is all theoretical based on my observations of turkey behaviors. My toms become soft spoken around the poults. Hopefully this is all and he's fine, you did say he had no signs of illness , and that he is your only Tom. Curious to see how it goes.

He is my only Tom. No known health issues. He is a very healthy young man

I feel that you are exactly right! I have been watching his actions and your right, he thinks they are his and he is protecting them. Proof of that happened last night when we went to move the heat lamp on them and cover the hutch up with a cover, he tried to attack my husband which was incredibly funny. He is not a small bird by any means and darn near landed on his head!!! Now my husband thinks he is crazy! I said, he knew that you were messing with his babies. Not to mention the entire time that we were out there he was very vocal.

I appreciate your response. I truly believe you are right. Thank you again.

Sheri

Turkeys are funny, they seem to always be thinking, and sometimes those thoughts are goofy, like my turkeys.

lekafarms said:

He is my only Tom.  No known health issues.  He is a very healthy young man  


I feel that you are exactly right!  I have been watching his actions and your right, he thinks they are his and he is protecting them.  Proof of that happened last night when we went to move the heat lamp on them and cover the hutch up with a cover, he tried to attack my husband which was incredibly funny.  He is not a small bird by any means and darn near landed on his head!!!  Now my husband thinks he is crazy!  I said, he knew that you were messing with his babies.  Not to mention the entire time that we were out there he was very vocal. 


I appreciate your response.  I truly believe you are right.  Thank you again.

Sheri

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Might be feeling possessive of the chicks but, I'd not rule out the tom's not being happy that the chicks are there. Also, any form of aggression from jake or tom is not to be tolerated. Get a broom with long, half-stiff bristles, and push that guy back and keep walking towards him and pushing him back until he turns around and hot-foots it away. Chase for a few yards, then turn around and walk away as if nothing has happened. Repeat as necessary, CONSISTENTLY. Also, if you notice him walking along behind you - a little too fast and too close (he's "stalking" if, when you stop, he'll stop) broom.

Give him some extra treats and keep an eye on all interactions with all chooks, for the time being.