Dominant versus non-dominant male turkeys

[Hensfoot]

Turkey novice question. Can one large and in-charge tom cause a suppression of features in other males?

We have 7 midget white birds, 7 months old. The obvious tom is the largest, has beard, gobble, blue head, etc. Everyone else in the flock is beardless and smaller. Goal is to process 3-4 and keep 3-4. I was hoping to end up with more hens than toms so that this postman-alert consortium could lend the occasional egg…also working with the assumption that more than one male to few females would be problematic. Thought we had a 3 hen, 4 tom split based on the displays and more frequent sparring when younger, although I know that’s not the tell-all I’d like it to be.

They're still putting out pinfeathers at the breast, so maybe I'm jumping the gun on decisions with this smaller, heritage-lite breed? Tips appreciated.

 

[R2elk]

Turkey novice question. Can one large and in-charge tom cause a suppression of features in other males?

We have 7 midget white birds, 7 months old. The obvious tom is the largest, has beard, gobble, blue head, etc. Everyone else in the flock is beardless and smaller. Goal is to process 3-4 and keep 3-4. I was hoping to end up with more hens than toms so that this postman-alert consortium could lend the occasional egg…also working with the assumption that more than one male to few females would be problematic. Thought we had a 3 hen, 4 tom split based on the displays and more frequent sparring when younger, although I know that’s not the tell-all I’d like it to be.

They're still putting out pinfeathers at the breast, so maybe I'm jumping the gun on decisions with this smaller, heritage-lite breed? Tips appreciated.
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Yes a dominant tom can cause non-dominant toms to suppress displays.

Hard to tell from those pics but it does look like you have predominantly hens with one for sure tom.

For a breeding flock I try to keep at least 4 to 5 hens for one tom. Keeping multiple toms with only a few hens can lead to injured or dead hens and poor fertility as the toms try to prevent each other from breeding.

FYI Midget White is the variety. The breed is Turkey for all domestic turkeys.

 

[Molpet]

I was sold 2 pair of heritage at 8 weeks. They looked like 2 pair until 6 months. I came out one day and I had 4 jakes.

7 months they should be obvious by size, snood and Mohawk. Need top of head picture.
Hens keep the Mohawk up the neck.

 

[Hensfoot]

Thanks for the tips! If I got 6 hens out of 7 birds, from 8 that hatched total...from the ONE time I hatch for the table and not for chickens that I want for egg production...I will make the best of it but be quietly cross, lol.

Here's some mohawk shots. Still learning how to get that overhead without blur and/or a beak on the camera, but you can see the feather creep all the way up the necks. All but the big guy has it. Second shot is better on that one bird.

 

[R2elk]

Thanks for the tips! If I got 6 hens out of 7 birds, from 8 that hatched total...from the ONE time I hatch for the table and not for chickens that I want for egg production...I will make the best of it but be quietly cross, lol.

Here's some mohawk shots. Still learning how to get that overhead without blur and/or a beak on the camera, but you can see the feather creep all the way up the necks. All but the big guy has it. Second shot is better on that one bird.

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I only see the one tom. All the others have clear mohawks. Even late developing toms are usually identifiable by the time they are 6 months old.

 

[Hensfoot]

I only see the one tom. All the others have clear mohawks. Even late developing toms are usually identifiable by the time they are 6 months old.

Thanks! I'll keep your 4-5 hens under advisement for an initial breeding crew, too. That wasn't the original plan, but perhaps this stroke of luck deserves some thought.

 

[R2elk]

Thanks! I'll keep your 4-5 hens under advisement for an initial breeding crew, too. That wasn't the original plan, but perhaps this stroke of luck deserves some thought.

The claim is that one tom can handle ten hens. Keeping more than a couple makes it much easier on the hens with the hens not getting overbred.