Aggressive Royal Palm tom turkey

[Lamanite Jim]

I think my Royal Palm tom killed my Eastern Georgia Black tom. I found him dead inside the run. I skinned him out and found what appeared to be bruising all over his chest and at the base of his neck. My Royal Palm hen just started laying eggs so I wonder if the Georgia Black could have been killed in a lovers' quarrel. My turkeys are protected from predators by fencing do it had to be an 'inside job'. Any thoughts?

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC! Sorry about the loss of your turkey. You'll want to post on the Turkey forum for ideas about what happened https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/20/turkeys

 

[Chicken Girl1]

Hello

and Welcome to BYC!

Glad to have you join! Feel free to make yourself at home!

 

[drumstick diva]

Someone on another thread posted a video of her tom turkeys fighting, it was hysterical. They just seemed to grab each others beak and hang on while doing some fancy footwork.

If that is how they really fight - I don't think it would cause chest bruises. The turkey people should know for sure.

I don't mean any disrespect over the loss of your tom. What I meant to bring out was their fighting didn't seem like a battle. Certainly not fierce like roosters.

 

[Wyandottes7]

Hello, and welcome to BYC!

I'm glad you joined our community.

I'm sorry for your loss!

I've never kept turkeys before, so don't know how vicious they can be. I would post in the Turkeys section that Kelsie2290 linked to.

 

[BantamFan4Life]

Welcome to BYC! I'm glad you joined us!

 

[Mountain Peeps]

Welcome to BYC! Please make yourself at home and we are here to help.

Sorry for your loss!