Female turkey picking fights with her brother!! Please help

[First time chicken lover]

Hello there! I raised 2 BBB and Roscoe the Tom got sick so I took him to the vet and he’s fine now. I really introduce them and Sophia the hen, keeps on insisting to pick fights! It’s getting pretty bad to where they’re drawing blood, any thoughts anybody?

 

[casportpony]

Welcome to BYC! I don't have enough experience with this sort of issue, but maybe someone else does.

 

[sourland]

Welcome to BYC. In his absence she has become the dominant bird and is resisting his natural instinct to become dominant. I would remove her from the flock, make sure that his health is 100 % and then reintroduce her to the flock - I'm talking days or perhaps weeks not hours of separation.

 

[R2elk]

Hello there! I raised 2 BBB and Roscoe the Tom got sick so I took him to the vet and he’s fine now. I really introduce them and Sophia the hen, keeps on insisting to pick fights! It’s getting pretty bad to where they’re drawing blood, any thoughts anybody?

Dominance fights can get pretty ugly and yes it is normal for blood to flow. I had a tom and hen where the hen was the dominant bird as they were growing up. Once the tom felt up to challenging for dominance, the fight went on all day long for three days before he got her to accept his dominance.

The more you interfere with their dominance fights, the longer it is going to take for them to get it settled.

 

[Noellereagan]

I’ve recently started using a trick to help minimize these fights. I’m not sure if it’s right, wrong or indifferent but all I know is that it’s really working for me- and well. Maybe @R2elk has feedback before you try it. But here it is...
You know how when they fight and manage to draw blood it only irritates them more and increases the tension, making things escalate and last for days, sometimes weeks? But if the bully/ dominate bird can’t really get a hold good enough to really... sorry there’s no other way to say this- piss them off- it seems to deflate quickly with a winner but no one bloody.
But how? (I cannot take credit. Someone suggested to me on Instagram). Take Vaseline and rub it in your hands until it’s ready to be easily spread. Now put it all over the fleshy parts of the birds fighting (head, neck, wattle and especially caruncles and snood where they really tend to bite each other and pull). Use caution not to get it in ears or eyes and especially nostrils. I’d imagine the latter could really create a serious problem.
You’ll still get the fighting but they don’t get so upset and fired up because no one can really grab a hold and hurt the other. So far- through about 7 battles for dominance that were going to get ugly- they quickly (within five minutes or so) were able to establish a dominate bird and the best part- NO BLOOD! Each and every time- within five minutes, they were back to best buddies and no one was worse for wear.
This worked with two toms I thought for sure I’d have to separate. Pre Vaseline trick- On more than one occasion (and they were at it daily) - one whooped the others butt real bad and even when the defeated Tom submitted the dominate (and aggressive) Tom was still real mad (and bleeding) so he wouldn’t quit. But it only happened twice where I had to put Vaseline on them and both times in was over in five min. Now it’s been over a month since we’ve had an issue. (Knock on wood). The dominate Tom still rules the roost but there’s no fighting.
But the problem is seeing the fights ensue in the first place I guess. I’m self employed and have my office at home. I spend most of the day outside and if I’m inside I can see them from most windows. So I guess that’s my advantage. It got so bad between these two that if I were gone I’d imagine things could have gone a completely different way had they not have been separated. But I really didn’t have the ability to separate them. So I thought this was worth a shot. And it worked- not only with them but with another pair of Toms and a Tom/ hen dispute too. Now everyone knows who plays what role. And no blood shed. I’d imagine when breeding season rolls around I’ll be buying stock in Vaseline.
I’m not sure, however, if Vaseline can bring in any adverse reactions if used too much. Maybe others can pipe in on topic. Good luck. Fighting turkeys sucks. But r2elk is right- it’s usially way worse than it seems. Not always- sometimes it is really that bad. But usually not. And one thing is for sure- if they’re beloved pets like mine are- and I’m assuming yours are too if you’re taking them to the vet- turkey fights are about the worst think to be witness to. It’s cringeworthy.
My concern between a Tom and a hen would be that he would hurt her. I’ve only had one issue with both genders like that. The hen involved is also despised by a different Tom she’s housed with but she can go in the best box area where he won’t fit and they’ve learned to peacefully stay out of each other’s way. And on day one she made it clear she respects him as king. So it was over quickly. But I’d imagine if she used the tenacity she went after the other Tom with the big guy she’s with may have killed her. That would be my concern. That and your toms health like r2elk pointed out. Best of luck! Keep us posted.