Has anyone successfully tamed a mean tom?

[SarahGfa]

I had a young male turkey who was very fond of baby chicks:

Some of those chicks turned out to be cockerels so I removed/butchered them this week. My very timid and docile turkey turned into a psycho, running at me sideways trilling and gobbling while I was grabbing the chickens. Now I have to carry a stick with me whenever I go outside, to prod him away. If I let him get close he will jump up and ninja-kick me.

Do turkeys hold grudges? Is he going to be aggressive for the rest of his life? Every thread I've seen says to process aggressive turkeys, but he was 100% nice until this week.

 

[R2elk]

Do turkeys hold grudges?

They sure can.

Do you have any other turkeys or is he your only turkey?

 

[SarahGfa]

They sure can.

Do you have any other turkeys or is he your only turkey?

Only turkey. He hatched with other poults but he is the only one who survived.

 

[R2elk]

Only turkey. He hatched with other poults but he is the only one who survived.

You can try getting some turkey hens for him. It is never a good idea to keep a lone tom with chickens. Eventually he will start killing them when he tries to breed them.

 

[SarahGfa]

You can try getting some turkey hens for him. It is never a good idea to keep a lone tom with chickens. Eventually he will start killing them when he tries to breed them.

Okay, but shouldn't I make sure I can tame him first? Don't want to end up with a whole flock of mean turkeys.

 

[R2elk]

Okay, but shouldn't I make sure I can tame him first? Don't want to end up with a whole flock of mean turkeys.

It may get him to change his attitude if he has some girls running his life. It might not either. I am not convinced that you have a mean turkey so much as you have a turkey trying to protect his flock.

 

[SarahGfa]

It may get him to change his attitude if he has some girls running his life. It might not either. I am not convinced that you have a mean turkey so much as you have a turkey trying to protect his flock.

I can get hens for him, but it will take some time. In the meantime is there anything I can do to make him stop fighting me?

 

[R2elk]

I can get hens for him, but it will take some time. In the meantime is there anything I can do to make him stop fighting me?

Never turn your back on him. Do not poke him with a stick ( it implies that you are accepting his challenge. Walk straight up to him and make him move out of your way. Carry a broom an use it to gently force him away from you.

Pen him separately from the chickens. If you are going to keep him, you will have to separate him or he will start killing chickens.

Ultimately the only guaranteed method is to invite him to dinner as the guest of honor.

 

[SarahGfa]

Never turn your back on him. Do not poke him with a stick ( it implies that you are accepting his challenge. Walk straight up to him and make him move out of your way. Carry a broom an use it to gently force him away from you.

Pen him separately from the chickens. If you are going to keep him, you will have to separate him or he will start killing chickens.

Ultimately the only guaranteed method is to invite him to dinner as the guest of honor.

OK, so I should sweep him away like dust, instead of poking him away like cattle. Should I chase him around the yard to make sure he knows I am the boss?

Chickens have their own pens that I open during the day, but can close up if turkey becomes a problem.

 

[R2elk]

Should I chase him around the yard to make sure he knows I am the boss?

You can try that but he will probably come after you as soon as you turn your back.