Are hens friendlier than toms?

[aoxa]

Okay so I'm really new to turkeys.. I purchased two - week old poults on June 3rd. That would make them 8 weeks old. I have one that is smaller than the other, has more of a 'delicate' face (cuter too) and the smaller one is also way more friendly. She/he LOVES to roost on my lap and get a neck rub. The other one ignores me for the most part. I think I saw the smaller one strut.. She/he was looking in the window at her/his reflection and dropped the wings and fanned the tail. Is this a positive sign for a tom? They are Eastern Wild Turkeys (legal in Canada - by the way.. They are not cooped up. They stay around because they have become attached - or at least the smaller one has, the other one won't leave the smaller one)..

This is the smaller one I thought was a hen. So sweet.

They have the run of the farm, yet they enjoy spending the majority of their time with the silkies. I have no idea why they like them so much

Sunbathing. I don't seem to have any recent pictures of the other one.. But here he is 2 weeks ago

So.. Any guesses? Do I have two toms?

 

[frank53061]

To young for me to tell but as they get older If there is a Tom and it sounds like there may be it will grow faster and bigger than the Hen.
Your question about Toms and Hens everyone has its own personality I have one Tom and One hen who stands out among the other 15 Red Bourbons as far as looking for human contact.
All wanted contact but as they grow older only the two still want affection at 4 months old.
My Poults were 2 to 3 days old when I got them.

 

[stephanieepley]

I think it is equal. I have one tom and two hens. I have one hen that likes to get in my lap and sleep. The tom is very nosey he is behind me all the time if i have on flip flops he pecks my toes. If i lean down all 3 of them will come right in my face and make all these little sounds. They will also pull my hair lol. I call them my puppies.

 

[aoxa]

I just can't get over how clingy this little one is.. She/he is obviously smaller than the other, but I don't have a picture of them side by side to compare. Here she (which is what I will call her until I know for sure) is today snuggling like she always does. LOVES a neck scratch.

Oh and I got a picture of the bigger one. It has a much less cute face

Thanks for your replies guys!

 

[stephanieepley]

how sweet. it kinda looks like you have a hen and a tom to me.

 

[aoxa]

how sweet. it kinda looks like you have a hen and a tom to me.

I sure hope so!

 

[erinchelsea]

How sweet!!!

My Bourbon Reds are about the same age and I haven't been able to tell the toms from the hens until very recently. Of course, I probably don't know what to look for, all I know is that it is different than sexing chickens! I hope you have one of each, that would be nice.

 

[aoxa]

How sweet!!!  My Bourbon Reds are about the same age and I haven't been able to tell the toms from the hens until very recently. Of course, I probably don't know what to look for, all I know is that it is different than sexing chickens! I hope you have one of each, that would be nice. 

I find the turkeys so much more personable right now then the chickens.. Or at least this one. I just love her. She is very attached. She escorts me from the barn to the house every time I make the trip, and follows me around wherever I go.

 

[brainfog]

Hello. I too am new to turkeys - and got my ~1 week olds on Mother's day. Want to give you a heads up on 'blackhead' disease! My research suggest that it is common when turkey's run with chickens or when the turkeys have pasture access and/or get ahold of an earthworm. I really have grown attached to my turkeys so I went into a bit of a panic when they became sick and it was difficult to understand how to fix it. I'm going to try and write a post for BYC today and hope to fix it!

Best of luck.
Chris

PS: The foaming yellow droppings mean that the liver is being attacked by the protozoa and that the disease has progressed!

 

[aoxa]

Hello.  I too am new to turkeys - and got my ~1 week olds on Mother's day.  Want to give you a heads up on 'blackhead' disease!  My research suggest that it is common when turkey's run with chickens or when the turkeys have pasture access and/or get ahold of an earthworm.  I really have grown attached to my turkeys so I went into a bit of a panic when they became sick and it was difficult to understand how to fix it.   I'm going to try and write a post for BYC today and hope to fix it!

Best of luck.
Chris

PS:  The foaming yellow droppings mean that the liver is being attacked by the protozoa and that the disease has progressed!    

 

Blackhead is not a common disease in my area. I know plenty of breeders that free range them together and have never experienced issues, and they have for this long with no issues. Not going to worry about something that might not happen. I cannot keep these two confined. They can fly like crazy so they would need to have a fully fenced in area, which kind of defeats the purpose of using them as lawn ornaments. I'm sorry you are going through this with your turkeys! How awful!

I had a vet come and vaccinate all my birds (including the turkeys) and they said not to worry about Black head. They haven't had a case in many years. At that point my turkeys were too young to mix with the chickens anyway, so I had not previously let them free.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/619534/raising-turkeys-around-chickens
Here is a thread that explained that the disease is more prevalent in certain parts of the country.