Cockerels and Toms

[Stacykins]

I know a lot of people keep their turkeys and chickens together with no issues, but my cockerels and toms are not getting along. By not getting along, I mean the turkeys are going after the cockerels, who then stand up for themselves and everything turns into a flogging match. Is this normal? I just broke up a fight, one of several just today, that the turkeys instigated. I guess this means I need to build a turkey coop and keep them separate. Since I have other projects to accomplish first, I'm just going to butcher the turkeys tomorrow and start anew next year, I think.

 

[chickenzoo]

Lots of male hormone floating taround I'm afraid....hehe. Yes they will fight and turkeys are often the bullies. I have a few turkeys that go after the emu..... My free range turkeys and chickens get along better, more space equals less tension. Also my geese break up any fights

 

[Stacykins]

They do free range, first thing in the morning when the sun rises I release them from their coop. So they aren't really concentrated (they roam a few acres surrounding the coop). But I guess the boys have to duke it out. Strange thing though, once the araucana cockerel was riled up enough, he was kicking the turkey's butt (when the turkey wasn't hanging on the cockerel by the wattles, ouch!). They're separated at the moment now, turkeys are enclosed in the run and the chickens have free range privileges.

 

[chickenzoo]

I have more problems with my turkey hens beating up the Roos.......

 

[MCI]

My turkeys team up and take on the top rooster, especially after he tries courting the turkey hens. Then they sort it out amongst themselves. Usually not all year, from about now until June or so. The rest of the time they get along.