Can you imprint a turkey?

[Laura78]

Ok so my turkey hatched out yesterday and I was the first thing it saw and talked to it a lot during the hatching, did this in hopes that a turkey can be imprinted like geese and ducks can. Also, here are some pictures because I know people will want to see it. The mom is a Red Bourbon and the dad is a Black Spanish. I got the egg for free from our feed store when they had 2 hens that someone gave them to sell. It did hatch alone, the other egg I had gotten was clear. It is a quite baby most of the time, except when I put it down after holding it. Also, I bought 2 chicks to keep it company, they are D'Uccles, not sure of the coloring on them.

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

yes they can, turkeys are flock birds and they will bond to you. The more you work with them the more friendly they will be.

One thing to remember.... the cute little poult that sits in your lap may grow to be 30 pound tom that likes to do the same thing.

Steve in NC

 

[chickenlittle32]

That is the truth!! I have a bb choc hen, a RP hen, and a bronze tom, and they want to sit on your lap...fed from your hand...(and boy does that hurt when they are hungry) They follow us everywhere in the run, "talking" to us.

 

[tonini3059]

I have a black wing bronze and sweet grass that as soon as they hear my voice they come running. They love to be picked up and cuddled and will jump on you and sit when they get the chance.

 

[Struttn1]

Are you sure that is a Black Spanish/Bourbon Red cross? I just had six of them hatch today and to me that poult looks more like a pure Bourbon than a BS/BR mix.

here is a pic of my Black Spanish/Bourbon Red mutts.

 

[lcourtaway]

Laura, my month old slate blue poult has definitely imprinted on me. He does the little soft baby peeps only for me and follows me and nestles in my neck. He/she had a rough start and got extra attention from the beginning but he knows the sound of my voice and listens for me. I raised him with BO, Jersey Giant, Brahma, and EE chicks(4 total) and I really think that helps make it easier and gives him something to snuggle with when I'm not around. I know the poult will get bigger and a lap turkey may not be as appealing but I can't help myself. Poults are just too cute.

 

[walkswithdog]

LOL to Ditto everyone else OMG YES!!!

I'm Momma to two lap full grown turkeys, and seven 6 week olds - as in fling themselves bodily into my arms every chance they get...

Umm yeah, they imprint.

That baby does look like a pure BR btw...

 

[aleciasayshii]

you can imprint ANY type of bird. I actually met a turkey once, who was quite fond of people.
but a litttttttttttttttttlleee toooo fond if you know what i mean.
It was kindof gross but he was still pretty cool.

 

[Laura78]

I know for a fact that the momma was a RB. The dad had been killed before I got my eggs and I was told that he was a BS, but can't prove it. Maybe he was a RB and the feed store just thought otherwise. Doesn't much matter to me, it's a cute little bugger and I'm hoping it's a girl.

 

[Struttn1]

I am pretty sure you have a pure Bourbon there.