A century of Turkey talk 2000-2100.

[prizepete]

Well Thanks to everyones help, I picked Up three poults today! they are super Cute! I can see how you guys love them so much!

 

[memphis]

Congrats on the poults! What did you get? And where are our pictures?

Feisty. ..how is the new hen doing?

 

[feistychick]

Finnie - congrats on your new boy, he's pretty! I'm sure that your girls will like him once he settles in and they get used to him.

Prizepete - it's a rule - announcements about new poults must be accompanied by pictures

My new hen is no longer trying to run from me which is a start. I'll just gradually get her used to me, and then we'll see whether she's a people-turkey or one who is stand-offish (either is fine). I've started calling her Coco since she looks like chocolate milk to me

 

[duluthralphie]

I have figured out me Toms bedtime antics!

When they come from the (our) house side of the pen they go right in. When they come from any other direction they refuse to go in.

Tonight I had some people stop to pick up some creamette chicks. The Tom had to come and visit with them. When they were leaving I told the Toms it was bedtime, they went right to and in their pen.

OR they did not want the "visitors" to think they were bellybuttons. I am sure they left thinking "wow" what well trained turkeys he has"....


They are devious!

 

[Finnie]

They should become "friends" soon enough. Give them another week or two.


It sounds like your hen is getting a spot ready to lay her eggs. Hormones definetly kick in this time of year! My hen has been bouncing all over like a little goat!


I used to think my tom never ate but he actually waited till all the humans were gone to stop strutting! Then when we walk outside he starts strutting again!!


You have a beautiful tom and should get some beautiful poults this spring!

Thank you! I can't wait!

It makes sense that they need more time. He's only been here 9 days, and 7 of those were spent in solitary confinement. Only had two days to mingle so far.

And I did finally see him put his tail feathers down and forage out in the grass. He's going to be in trouble if he struts whenever he sees humans. Their hangout is right outside our sliding glass door, and they people watch us in the house all day long!

Oh- then I saw him do this weird "Indian Rain Dance" thing today. All hunched funny and stomping his feet, one then the other.

It is rare to see a tom eat! Well almost. They spend so much time strutting. If he is circling you he might be sizing you up. You need to walk through him whenever you see him. You reach for him. Keep him leery and subservient to you. If you can pick him up, hold him, pet him, monkey with his hen. make him know he is your "female dog"!


I know R2elk does not socialize his turkeys, That is another thing you can do, but then you must make sure you do not interact with the hens either. ( IMHO) but I could be all wet on that.

I am getting 2 eggs a day. Hopefully infertile ones, I am building places for turkeys as fast as I can.

Welcome back!

Thank you!

I will take your advice and make sure he knows I'm the dominant one in the relationship.

I can pick him up sometimes. And sometimes I force him to let me pet him. And at night, now that he's out of jail, he doesn't want to go back in there any more. He wants to sleep on the fence rail. So I pick him up off there (it's only a four foot fence) and either herd him into the pen by pushing him with my hands, or carry him in there.

This indicates that he has been imprinted on people. He is courting you because he doesn't know the difference between people and turkeys. Don't be surprised if he goes after your husband once he becomes comfortable in his new surroundings. Since he finds you desirable as a mate, I don't think that you personally have anything to worry about from him. I would recommend that you pen him with the hen turkeys without the chickens and hope that he will learn that he can court them also.

My husband rarely goes in the yard with the birds. Should I have him make a point of getting the tom used to him? So he knows who's boss?

I'll have to see what I can do about separating him and the hens from the chickens. Maybe they will just figure it out any way, in the meantime.

Congrats on the poults! What did you get? And where are our pictures?

Ditto! I agree with feistychick, I think that's a rule too!

Finnie - congrats on your new boy, he's pretty! I'm sure that your girls will like him once he settles in and they get used to him.

Prizepete - it's a rule - announcements about new poults must be accompanied by pictures

My new hen is no longer trying to run from me which is a start. I'll just gradually get her used to me, and then we'll see whether she's a people-turkey or one who is stand-offish (either is fine). I've started calling her Coco since she looks like chocolate milk to me

OH! Yours is Coco, and my new tom is Coconut!

I need to look at the photo gallery and see your chocolate milk hen.

 

[Finnie]

Oh, I found her! She's gorgeous. She has a real sweet face.

 

[R2elk]

My husband rarely goes in the yard with the birds. Should I have him make a point of getting the tom used to him? So he knows who's boss?

That would be an excellent idea.

 

[duluthralphie]

That would be an excellent idea.

X2 If you socialize you have to make sure they know they are not the top of the pecking order.

Also you should know here the Toms, roosters and guineas are in one pecking order and the Hen turkeys have their own, and the hen chickens their own. It gets really complicated trying to figure out who is where on the list. So JUST make sure your whole family is on the top of the list!

 

[Finnie]

Thank you both! Will do.

 

[memphis]

Feisty....Coco is the perfect name for her!

She's so pretty! I love her coloring.

I was out of town from Thursday till Monday. Daisy is making great advances in growing new feathers! She even jumped up on the arm of my chair to be petted. She wasn't letting me pet her for awhile.