Fighting turkeys!?

[OurLittlebitRanch]

My turkeys are only four weeks old and they are, well what appears to be, fighting. Then today I noticed that the younger ones, just a little over two weeks are walking around all puffed up, strutting their stuff!!!
This is my first time raising turkeys since I was a little kid, is this normal or should I be worried?
THey have plenty of food and water and a lot of space both inside and outside.

 

[KristinMarie]

I assume that it is normal play. My poults are almost 4 weeks old and have been doing the same exact thing for a little over a week. It is so cute! They don't seem to be hurting each other. They seem to be trying to tie each other up with their necks. Some of them are puffing up and strutting. They march in tiny little circles around others who are laying down. They look like miniature adult turkeys. I love it! I sure hope that it isn't a sign of aggression. They have plenty of food, water, and room to run around and play.

 

[Cole D]

You will have to watch them when they are older but I have never had chicks that young fight with eachother.

 

[TheJadeChicken]

My 3 are doing the same thing. Between the smallest and biggest. I am thinking that is the pecking order or territory fighting/sizing each other up.

 

[FarmerGilland]

I know this sounds funny but if they start hurting one another whoop them with a newspaper or fly flap...trust me they will stop.

 

[exop]

I've had a couple of poults around the 3 or 4 week mark who I sometimes see fighting - looks like thumb wrestling, but with turkey necks. The objective seems to be to get your opponent's head on the ground and hold it there to the count of three; grabbing the other party's face with your beak is not against the rules but can result in some loud squeaking. I'm pretty sure it is a dominance thing. It seems to be the largest poult who is always involved in these things.

 

[karen dee]

Mine starter fighting at about 6 weeks. They were hurtung each other and I got so worried I separated them. One is a tom and 2 are hens, I think. Now I have the problem of room for 3 separate. I don't know if I can ever turn them loose together again or not.

 

[exop]

Mine starter fighting at about 6 weeks. They were hurtung each other and I got so worried I separated them. One is a tom and 2 are hens, I think. Now I have the problem of room for 3 separate. I don't know if I can ever turn them loose together again or not.

Do they have room to walk around and things to do and see? Mine are free range with their mother (also a turkey) and most of the time they are walking around and looking at bushes and eating grass, et cetera. Very busy little birds. If they didn't have something to entertain themselves, there might be more drama... but for the most part, they are busy doing "turkey stuff". Squabbles seem to take place only during down time when everyone is sitting around having a rest break. I bet your birds will be ok together if they are running around loose with something to occupy themselves. They might establish dominance and then quit fighting. The sex ratio, 1 male and 2 females should be peaceful!

 

[karen dee]

Thank you for your reply. I know that was the problem. They were penned up and I planned to put them in a bigger run, but, too late? I'd like to turn them loose in the back, but, I have a friend who tells me they are going to leave. Roam over acres he says. Well, that would about put them in town.
I thought if I turned them loose one at a time for exercise , they'd stick around the house and walk back into the building periodically. I sure don't know turkeys!