Chickens are eating my Tom's tail.

[Eichert87]

My Tom walks around and my chickens follow him, picking and eating his tail. I keep spraying it with blucote which gets them to stop for a day. How do I prevent this?
I know that some people say turkeys and chickens can't live together... blackhead and all, but I know many people who have never had an issue and neither have I. I am just interested in preventing this. Separation is not a feasible option.

 

[Lil' Chicky :)]

Welcome to byc! I have turkeys and this has never happened to me with my chickens and stuff. But I think u should separate it from the chickens and then when it's healed put it back with them. Hope this helps!!!!
What kind of chickens are doing this to the turkey? What does the turkey look like?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

What are you feeding your chickens? They could be craving protein.

I recommend keeping turkeys and chickens separately because they can be behaviorally incompatible, but it is your choice.

Poultry will peck each other to death, so it is a serious situation. When you apply the bluekote do the chickens go peck at it right away? Sometimes if they peck wet bluekote they get a bad taste and it helps stop it.

If the behavior continues you may have to separate to stop the habit.

 

[Dawnclucks22]

I agree, try supplementing protein.

 

[pennyJo1960]

maybe even separate the tom any way your able just keep them apart

 

[ChickNanny13]

I would try increasing the chicken's protein, they could be lacking. What are you feeding them? Try hanging a head cabbage for the chickens, they could be bored & chasing after the Tom is FUN! Guess the Tom's hen pecked