A century of Turkey talk 2000-2100.

[Molpet]

I cant believe this! Just had a knock at my door. Cable guy. I don't have cable. Next door neighbors cable was out & they fixed it only one problem. My turkeys wouldn't let the repair guy get down from the pole. In the far corner of my yard there is a telephone pole. Its actually right over the 6 foot fence in my neighbors yard.. BOTH birds were perched on the fence watching him. Annie was barking, Daisy was just curious. They were actually sitting down enjoying themselves. Guy on the pole started yelling at me to "Get those birds! I can't get down. They will attack me!" His two companions were hysterical. Girls came when I called. The perils of having city birds.

 

[ketojenn]

I cant believe this! Just had a knock at my door. Cable guy. I don't have cable. Next door neighbors cable was out & they fixed it only one problem. My turkeys wouldn't let the repair guy get down from the pole. In the far corner of my yard there is a telephone pole. Its actually right over the 6 foot fence in my neighbors yard.. BOTH birds were perched on the fence watching him. Annie was barking, Daisy was just curious. They were actually sitting down enjoying themselves. Guy on the pole started yelling at me to "Get those birds! I can't get down. They will attack me!" His two companions were hysterical. Girls came when I called. The perils of having city birds.

Attack turkeys.

 

[CindyinSD]

@memphis you have the hilariousist adventures ever. I am in awe... wish you lived next door.

You are not alone. I just got a batch of chicks yesterday, I have quail hatching monday, then I'm going to set silkie eggs and some turkey eggs. The laying flock is up to giving us two dozen eggs/day and Dolly wants to set some of their eggs just to see what hatches. My husband is just shaking his head and mumbling under his breath about feed costs. But he is looking forward to turkey dinner this fall. lol

Haha... I wish my DH had that attitude. He says, “What are You going to do with all these birds?!” Me: We’re going to eat them... except for the geese unless they’re naughty.” Him: “We don’t eat pets. I can’t eat pets.” Me: “They’re not pets; they’re livestock. You’ll feel differently by Thanksgiving...” Him: “No I won’t. I can’t eat our pets.”

 

[memphis]

Cindy....your poor husband!

 

[karenerwin]

So I need the opinion of my expert turkey raisers on here. I have heard some people say that you have to watch your Tom turkeys with your chicken hens because they will try to breed them and kill them (accidentally) because they are just too big compared to a chicken and the chicken gets squashed. @duluthralphie
My question is, do you find that to be true? Have you had a problem with that?
The reason I am asking is because today I found a dead chicken hen in the yard. She has no signs of fowl play that I can see. Our Tom turkey flies between the 2 chicken yards as does the turkey hen. I see the tom strutting around all the time but I have never seen him try to mount a chicken or even the turkey hen for that fact. The turkeys are over a year old.
I brought the dead chicken hen in to do an necropsy on her to see if I can determine why she died. Do any of you have any suggestions as to anything that I should be looking for in particular?
Thanks for whatever help you can provide.

 

[feedman77]

So I need the opinion of my expert turkey raisers on here. I have heard some people say that you have to watch your Tom turkeys with your chicken hens because they will try to breed them and kill them (accidentally) because they are just too big compared to a chicken and the chicken gets squashed. @duluthralphie
My question is, do you find that to be true? Have you had a problem with that?
The reason I am asking is because today I found a dead chicken hen in the yard. She has no signs of fowl play that I can see. Our Tom turkey flies between the 2 chicken yards as does the turkey hen. I see the tom strutting around all the time but I have never seen him try to mount a chicken or even the turkey hen for that fact. The turkeys are over a year old.
I brought the dead chicken hen in to do an necropsy on her to see if I can determine why she died. Do any of you have any suggestions as to anything that I should be looking for in particular?
Thanks for whatever help you can provide.

Sorry for the loss of your hen.

Yes Tom's will try to mate a chicken. Especially if he doesnt have enough if his own hens. I have lost one in the past.

Dont know if the hen assumed a mating position and the tom obliged or if she was just setting and the tom took it as breeding position and stepped on her and she couldnt get out from under him. Then he commenced to river dance on her.

My guess on what to look for broken back, wings, legs and major bruising.

 

[karenerwin]

Sorry for the loss of your hen.

Yes Tom's will try to mate a chicken. Especially if he doesnt have enough if his own hens. I have lost one in the past.

Dont know if the hen assumed a mating position and the tom obliged or if she was just setting and the tom took it as breeding position and stepped on her and she couldnt get out from under him. Then he commenced to river dance on her.

My guess on what to look for broken back, wings, legs and major bruising.

Thanks, that makes sense. I only have 1 tom turkey and 1 turkey hen, so I am sure he doesn't feel like he has enough ladies!

 

[R2elk]

Thanks, that makes sense. I only have 1 tom turkey and 1 turkey hen, so I am sure he doesn't feel like he has enough ladies!

It is also a known that if a tom finds anything dead (not moving) it may mount it.

 

[memphis]

River dance? LOL! Oh that's funny!

 

[duluthralphie]

So I need the opinion of my expert turkey raisers on here. I have heard some people say that you have to watch your Tom turkeys with your chicken hens because they will try to breed them and kill them (accidentally) because they are just too big compared to a chicken and the chicken gets squashed. @duluthralphie
My question is, do you find that to be true? Have you had a problem with that?
The reason I am asking is because today I found a dead chicken hen in the yard. She has no signs of fowl play that I can see. Our Tom turkey flies between the 2 chicken yards as does the turkey hen. I see the tom strutting around all the time but I have never seen him try to mount a chicken or even the turkey hen for that fact. The turkeys are over a year old.
I brought the dead chicken hen in to do an necropsy on her to see if I can determine why she died. Do any of you have any suggestions as to anything that I should be looking for in particular?
Thanks for whatever help you can provide.

I have not seen it on a live healthy chicken. I assume the hens run away fast....But I do not doubt with enough turkey hens it could happen. I have seen the Toms mount dead chickens. But then who can blame them for wanting some good old fashioned necrophilia?

Tom turkeys can be quite amorous.