Gender Confused Turkey Hen

[tonini3059]

I have a 1 1/2 year old turkey hen who sat on eggs and hatched a few out one which is a tom who is starting to strut and gobble a little. About a month or so ago my tom got killed by a dog. Over the past few weeks she has began strutting, protecting the chickens and now attempting to gobble. We have swans and every time they come up to the other birds she gets all puffed up like a tom and chases them off. Is this normal? When I get a new tom will she settle down?

 

[BubAnna Angus]

One of my more broody hens will do that. I think it's funny to watch - she'll even fan her tail up a bit! And I have two toms..... She doesn't do it very often, I think it's just when she's feeling bossy.

 

[MandyH]

Yes that's normal, it's her defense mechanism kicking in. If she struts and acts like she wants to fight, she will make the other bird go away.

 

[tonini3059]

Yeah but she does it a lot when no one is around.