Female Turkey Mounting Female Turkey, BB, 8mo 🦃

[paloozaparty]

I'm pretty sure that this behavior that just started yesterday, is the Alpha female "Henny" turkey, showing dominance to Beta female "Penny" turkey? "Henny" (the alpha, apparently) is also my girl (rather, I'm her human)--so I was also wondering if she was/is behaving like this because I was cleaning out the pool and hadn't yet snuggled everyone , and that she's acting jealous?

Female Turkey Mounting Female Turkey, video

On a sidebar note, BrahBrah, our 8mo male turkey, started mounting Penny about 3 weeks ago, and girlfriend laid her first 2 eggs late last week--both had soft shells, thick contents, and the 2nd egg had two yolks. BrahBrah hasn't tried to mount Penny (in front of me)--but he's ALWAYS trying to mount Penny while she's sitting on my leg or leaning on me--worst case of fowl porn I've ever NOT expected to experience he seems to only relentlessly try to mount while I'm right in the mix...

So, if anyone has any other ideas

 

[R2elk]

What are you feeding them?

 

[paloozaparty]

What are you feeding them?

18% protein all flock (tractor supply)

 

[R2elk]

18% protein all flock (tractor supply)

Are you providing them with free choice oyster shell?

 

[paloozaparty]

Are you providing them with free choice oyster shell?

Yes, sorry, oyster and grit. Scraps once a week and dried grubs 2-3x per week.

I'm not sure the female turkeys are eating the oyster shells--i put both supplements into separate feed containers as well as toss some near their scratch. The hens know to eat both, but I'm not sure the turkeys do... I was just thinking this morning that maybe I should try to hand feed the turkey girls some oyster shell?

 

[R2elk]

Yes, sorry, oyster and grit. Scraps once a week and dried grubs 2-3x per week.

I'm not sure the female turkeys are eating the oyster shells--i put both supplements into separate feed containers as well as toss some near their scratch. The hens know to eat both, but I'm not sure the turkeys do... I was just thinking this morning that maybe I should try to hand feed the turkey girls some oyster shell?

The one laying soft shell eggs needs to be observed to see if she is eating any of the oyster shell. There can be other things such as a vitamin D deficiency which can cause the calcium to not be absorbed properly.

 

[paloozaparty]

The one laying soft shell eggs needs to be observed to see if she is eating any of the oyster shell. There can be other things such as a vitamin D deficiency which can cause the calcium to not be absorbed properly.

You're so thoughtful to share this insight, thank you! I kid you not, I just took my own supplements--I'm up to 15 in the morning and 20 at night--striving for balance--trying different brands and supplements for the past year!

I also wondered what else she's missing nutritionally, that's causing her soft eggs--i have been focused on trying to teach her to eat the oyster shells (ps I also refeed them the crushed chicken eggshells, when available). I also was wondering if her egg regularity is merely because she's a new layer

You're going to put me on a deep dive on the Internet for info on how/when to supplement vitamin D. THANK YOU

 

[paloozaparty]

Great news, I found two turkey eggs under a buried bush in the back yard--they're beautiful and hard. I texted a neighbor to let them know our eggciting news, and he told me that he also found turkey eggs in the same spot while we were out of town for 2 days! OMG he didn't know that we were waiting and worried...

These turkey eggs weigh 3oz compared to the chicken eggs that are between 1.7 - 2.4 oz...