Aggressive Turkey Babies? Whats up with this?

[chickenpiedpiper]

Hello, I have 3 4 month Olds, (2 blue palms, 1 royal Palm) and 3 5-6 wek old Blue Slates. The older 'babies' have begun posturing and stalking new cars that come in the driveway, and not acting very friendly towards any visitors. Now I do a business from my home, and can not have my customers getting frightened by big territorial turkeys!

Some people have told me this will pass? (not buying that whole heartedly) I need some more input please from other turkey owners.

I believe I have two toms and 1 hen in the older age, and at least 2 hens in the smaller birds, but it is hard to tell right now.

Thanks

 

[lotzahenz]

Sorry to hear about aggressive turkeys. I have four turkeys and they are all calm and gentle. My Royal Palms are a little timid, but hey are young. My old Tom comes up to people and they tend to be scared a bit because he is huge and puffs up, but he is just visiting. He follows you around like a dog. I say, cull them if they are mean in any way. You don't want a liability. HenZ

 

[chickenannie]

I would make sure they have plenty of room to roam and are not in an area that constantly has people/car traffic. The reason being that it is my opinion the way turkeys are treated causes them to react.

For example, if people are kicking at, or waving arms at, or chasing after them, they will tend toward becoming more defensive and territorial. My toms have always been very nice and I believe it's because they are essentially ignored (by people) and they hang out in pastures.

The one time i had problems with a generally nice tom getting mean (to ONE person) was when the farmer who keeps his cattle here and visits daily was ALWAYS aggressive toward the turkey tom. The farmer would swat at him, or poke at him with a stick, or shout at him, and I'll be darned if the turkey didnt' act aggressively toward that one guy and his truck, and yet was nice and just ignored everybody else. The turkey was not so dumb as some think!

Also my little half-grown turkeys do teh strut and play-fight each other but they are completely focused on their own social group (turkeys) and they never seem to have any desire to interract with the humans, except to generally move away from the people.

See:

 

[Laurelm]

I agree with what chickenannie said. I have two toms that I have rasied from babies and they follow me around. They just want to be close to me and the whole time they are usually puffed up trying to impress me I guess.

When people come over they are a little scared of the boys but they soon find out that they mean no harm. More like a gobbling greeting party.

If I ever saw anyone be mean to any of my animals I'd kick thier a*#! to next week and back.

Anyway I hope it all works out for you and that it does pass.

Here's a picture of Ruffles & Popcorn.

 

[chickenzoo]

What do you mean by not acting very friendly? What may be friendly to a turkey and friendly to a person may seem different...............

 

[chickenannie]

I noticed that MOST people react to my turkeys. Some just point and say "a turkey!". But about 25% of people have serious fright about the turkeys even though they just drive up my driveway for the first time. They are either: a) frightened by a past bad turkey experience, b) been warned that turkeys are frightful animals and will attack humans, or c) just paranoid and fearful of everything. (As I write this I'm realizing how silly people can be). Those fearful people do WEIRD things around my place like: a) refuse to get out of their car, b) grab their children and run to my front door as fast as they can, or c) act aggressive toward the turkey (who is completely uninterested in them, or is just displaying at them or looking their way).

However, I don't think it takes many aggressive acts ... maybe even just one or two times... to make a tom fight back and become bad-tempered.

P.S. I live on a farm, so it shouldn't be a surprise to anyone to see a chicken or turkey walking around. I mean, REALLY!!

 

[gypsy2621]

I take it you didnt know Tom turkeys are people eaters?
yep just ask my sister, she will tell you.
When I told her I had turkeys she said she wont visit because turkeys eat people.

this from a woman who is 64 years old and who had a goose that was meaner than fire.
Now that goose WOULD eat people.

 

[chickenzoo]

I've raised a lot of turkeys and never had one mean to people. I had a peacock and a turkey that would stalk each other for fun, but that's about it. Often they protect me, if I have a roo that tries to flog me, one of my turkey hens will run over and beat the snot out of him.

 

[toredano]

I would say just make sure they dont mistreat the birds when they come there.
Explain to them that they are not mean. just curious and just to ignore them. What amused me is that grown people are afraid of birds. Its just a bird.. and if you cant fend of a bird that is 25 lbs then you need to not leave your house at all.



My guineas rush everyone that comes down the driveway but just seeing if they are bringing treats.

But then again..I dont conduct business at my house and I tell everyone.. if they dont like my house or feathered friends.. they know where the exit is located at.

So far I have not had any negative responses to my birds.Maube because we live in a rural farm community and everyone has lifestock of some sort.


If they are so aggressive to everone that you are losing business.. rehome them ... maybe someoen is in need of a watch turkey somewhere

 

[chickenpiedpiper]

Hmmm, well, maybe its not aggression I am seeing then? I am new to turkeys, so we are kind of winging it. (no pun intended!) 111111 oops chicks on the keyboard.

Let me clarify thier actions a bit.

When an unkown car pulls in, and people get out, they all come right over and get all puffy, and start making different noises than they do with me. The turn bright colors of blue and red, and get real close to the people and very slow moving. The sounds are more like growls that the piping whistle I usually hear....

Is this just a turkey greeting? Are they just trying to impress the new people? it is a bit intimidating, but they have never actually bit at anyone..... I do think my tom to hen rationis off, I think I have 3-4 toms out of the 6. But they are all so young, I didnt think it would be an issue yet!!

They are really sweet to me and Rob, and follow us everywhere, and sit outside my window and watch me type! They chase my cats tho, wish they wouldnt do that!

A~