alpha tom got a beat-down, gangland style. Do I get involved?

[nickie]

The alpha Tom of my group got the tar kicked out of him today by 5 other toms. This is my first year with turkeys so I am still in the process of growing the extra boys out for the holidays. They are 5.5 months old. I have six girls, half of which started squatting and allowing mating this week. I know I have too many boys, and I also know that the females being receptive to mating has escalated normal male sparring. I'm used to the boys going after one another upon occasion, but today was bad. They skinned part of his neck which I have vet wrapped, but that has called the wrath of the females. Now I have 11 on 1. Do I intervene, let it go, what is the best way to proceed with this for the next just under two months.

 

[chicken pickin]

Im not experienced as this is my first year with turkeys. But if this were me in this situation I would seperate all the boys that you are growing out for the holidays in a seperate pen away from the hens and I would think most of the sparring should subside. I wouldnt leave them all together especially the Tom who is being attacked. If you cant remove the grow out boys Id try to remove the injured Tom until he heals.

 

[nickie]

Thank you for your input. As of right now Handsome (sill name, but its what I've always called him since his first strut at 2 days) is sleeping in the chicken coop. I had to take the wrap off since it was drawing more attention to him and making things worse so I used some super glue to close the rips in his neck and wattle. I like your advice to remove the grow out boys instead of removing him.

 

[PekinBantam]

My advice is to separate them, I only have one tom so I've never experienced this but my chicken roosters are separated because of their excessive fighting...

 

[nickie]

Pending location approval for a grow-out hut (my husband does the mowing, so no building for me until he gives the ok), it should be done in the next few days. The no.us to building yet another house is that I will be able to use it for my chicken meat project next year too so the effort will ne well worth it.

On another note, one of the other toms can be ranged with the females and handsome.

 

[Lagerdogger]

I had the flock take it to a hen last year. The entire back of her head and neck had no skin. Just a bloody mess. I separated her, and gave her the smallest other hen for a companion. She eventually healed over and I put her back into the flock with no ill effects. She is taking care of three late-hatched poults right now, so she apparently is not totally repulsive to the toms anymore.

Lots of times, if a bird gets sick or injured, the other birds give it to 'em. A small drop of blood is enough to attract the attention of the other birds and start a mob scene. If you seperate the tom, and then put him back, expect a couple days of fighting to reestablish the pecking order.

 

[nickie]

Right now he sleeps with the chickens, but ranges with the hens during the day. Yesterday I let 2 of the other toms out with him at a time. He quickly threw some smack down on the 2 and that was that. I attempted to let a third out with them yesterday and it quickly turned into "everybody, get him!"

Two of the small toms are now resting in my fridge, two more will go a bit closer to thanksgiving, and then I will have him (he is everything you hear about how cool turkeys are to have around in a big bald headed body) and another backup breeder.

 

[frank53061]

I had a smiler situation happen to me I had one of my 6 Toms that was the biggest who seemed to be the AL PA got the Poo kicked of him when the other Toms ganged up on him and left his head all blooded up but it scabbed over and healed just fine.
I have knock downs every wonce in a while but not to bad at a little over 6 months of age.
Its a pain now to try to let them out to free range all the Toms want to do is stand at the door of the pen were I am and show off.
I have to kick there big feathered butts out or they would stand there for ever just showing off LOL.

 

[nickie]

He has now rejoined the turkeys and again runs the show. He is still a bit rough around the neck area, but nothing I am concerned about. The flock seems to have settled a bit now that the crazy little palms are gone. Hopefully I can make it to November without another war.