Breeding Behavior Or Illness?

[Soph Loves Chooks]

Recently my female red bourbon turkey, Zim, has been acting strange. In the morning and afternoon she just lays down and won’t move, no matter what you do. Today I tried to get her up but she just flattened out her wings and “pancaked“ as I call it, like she was being mounted (although our male turkey has no interest in her). I left her be for a minute, but when I came back she was in the same spot standing up, but still wouldn’t walk. A minute later shes back to normal, running around being mad.

I don’t think she’s even a year old yet, neither is our male. This is my first experience with owning turkeys so I’m very confused on her behavior.

what’s wrong with her? Should I take her to the vet?

 

[R2elk]

Recently my female red bourbon turkey, Zim, has been acting strange. In the morning and afternoon she just lays down and won’t move, no matter what you do. Today I tried to get her up but she just flattened out her wings and “pancaked“ as I call it, like she was being mounted (although our male turkey has no interest in her). I left her be for a minute, but when I came back she was in the same spot standing up, but still wouldn’t walk. A minute later shes back to normal, running around being mad.

I don’t think she’s even a year old yet, neither is our male. This is my first experience with owning turkeys so I’m very confused on her behavior.

what’s wrong with her? Should I take her to the vet?

She is "assuming the position" which means she is ready to breed. They are sexually mature by the time they are 6 months old. If not provided with supplemental light, they will typically start breeding during the spring following the year they were hatched.