Another turkey question from the beginner. Pic added

[cashela]

So I have the two white turkeys, a tom and a hen. I wanted Blue Slates but my mom bought me these two and I was pleasantly surprised to have a tom and a hen. Part of me still wants the Blue Slates though. Part of me doesn't because these white buggers are eating me out of house and home and I only have one cage.

I am reluctant to get more turkeys because I am still new to them and I don't want them to fight if I end up with another tom, which I would want another pair if I could find them. Would this happen? Would they fight?

I love the turkeys though, they are so much fun.

 

[Gloria]

Does anyone know, do turkey tom's fight?

 

[()relics]

any idea as to the breed of your "white" turkeys? If they are BBwhites they are destined for the table...BBwhites eat alot grow large and will never produce fertile eggs by themselves....Maybe keep the whites until they are table sized then start with your blue slates...Toms usually don't fight unless they are overcrowded...but they might be rough on any new birds you add to their flock eg: the blue slates you want to add....JMO...I'm not a professional.

 

[walkswithdog]

My toms don't fight. There is an introduction period, where they will spar some.

If the two you have are eating more than your budget can bear, don't get more.

Make sure your whites are not BB Whites - those are food birds not pets/breeders.

If they're food birds - the eat a ton and need butchering fairly quickly before their legs break.

Slates are pretty but if you think two eat lots, more eat lots more.

Mine free range and still eat a good bit, especially while growing.

 

[chickenzoo]

Turkeys can chow down, but your's may be the BBWhites like said above. Also most Toms will happily co-exists, given the space, but every once in awhile I'll get two that just seem like rotten brothers- always picken at each other !

 

[Bluegem]

I've got 2 toms 1 white and 1 bronze at first they never fought but as soon as there was a fence between them they'd peck and kick at eachother through the wire and if they get into the yard together then I have to break up the fight because they just don't stop. Getting in between 2 fully grown male turkeys is not fun.

 

[cashela]

Thanks for the input. Yes I do believe these are meat birds. I mean, what else would they be, they are white turkeys. Here is a pic that was taken in July.

Thanks on the input of whether they would fight or not.

These turkeys are ravenous eaters. Are all turkeys like that? They eat everything you put in front of them. Their bowl never stays filled.

 

[chickenannie]

There are white turkeys that are heritage breeds and not BBWs also, like Beltsville and Midget White, but yours look like BBWs especially with your description of their eating so much.

In my opinion, yes, introducing new turkeys has the potential of them fighting.

However, BBWs aren't usually kept beyond Thanksgiving, so you may be able to get the Blue Slates after all.

 

[cashela]

darn.

 

[chickenannie]

darn about breeds? Or darn about fighting?
They don't ALWAYS fight, so you might want to experiment and keep a close eye on them.