Help... He's charging me

[nanawendy]

My almost 4 month RP toms are charging me. They (2) get all puffed up and one in particular rubs his head against his chest feathers and keeps approaching... to were I retreat. DH made a padded bamboo stick for me, But I want it to stop. I let them out of their coop so they can free range in our e He's chargingnclosed back yard. Does he not know where his bread is buttered? Any suggestion?

 

[Frosty]

My first suggestion is don't retreat, and if at all possible don't whack them or kick at them. They'll see that as aggression and keep challenging. I have heard of people picking them up and holding them (I think upside down?) or pinning them to the ground until they quit struggling. But you need to figure out what their intentions are. Do they think you might have treats? Are they in love with you? My turkeys come running to see if I have food, but don't puff up when they do that so maybe it's teenage hormones? If they act aggressive and are trying to attack, I would send them to the freezer.

 

[syble]

mine surround me and puff up and display where ever i go in the barn, its like wading through a sea of turkeys when the 5 big ones and 10 little ones all get going. No one has ever attacked me, they just push and jump around to get closest. Are you sure they are attack intending and not attention seeking?

 

[ivan3]

Definitely don't back up. Once the first one gets in close pick it up and, matter-of-factly, carry him back to the run and close him in (repeat with #2). When you let them out, make sure hose is turned on and spray head attached, as soon as they get in close, use a medium wide spray and let them have it (repeat as necessary). Also, get two long sticks (broom handles, whatever) and hold them with arms outstretched and herd those boys in and out of run until they get exhausted. As was mentioned/ 4 months old the hormones are flowing. Either establish yourself as boss bird or cook what will be little more than a couple squabs.

If they aren't trilling/or jumping up to spur you, they're probably just showing off.

 

[yadaguhtoo]

My tom turkey always comes upto me puffed up and making these kind of "chee" noises whenever I go outside. He does not threaten me at all, I think he is in love, in fact if I sit on the ground he will come up and just kind of brush up against me. I think he just wants attention from me since our 2 hens don't pay him any. It's kind of sweet but it can get annoying sometimes, I hope yours are just trying to be friendly

 

[nanawendy]

ivan3... what is trilling??? I think I need to get the courage to SEE WHAT THEIR INTENTIONS ARE. So far I'm reacting... you have all given me ways to act . Tomorrow is another day... wish me luck

Thank you

 

[ivan3]

They are only 4 months old, so, if they are trilling (melodic/throaty warble announcing intention to attack - usually delivered with neck outstretched and beak to the sky) it would be pretty unformed. You said they were charging you. Do they get pretty close and then put their heads down (kinda like a bull) and run into your legs? THAT is aggression. As was mentioned, just crowding you, all puffed up, is usually just turkey `vanity' (ours can be walking past and Cass just say `what big devils you are' and they'll start to display and chuff).

If you are the least bit nervous around these guys then you're going to have problems at some point.

Just tear up some grapes for them and feed them by hand. If they actually charge and head butt you, then use above methods.

 

[yadaguhtoo]

ivan3 I noticed you suggested squirting them with the hose.....this is what I did when I would water flowers and "Henry" (the horrible...lol) would get in my way......turns out he loves it, and now everytime I water here comes Henry running for the hose Turkeys can be quite the characters!

 

[ivan3]

yadaguhtoo wrote: ivan3 I noticed you suggested squirting them with the hose.....this is what I did when I would water flowers and "Henry" (the horrible...lol) would get in my way......turns out he loves it, and now everytime I water here comes Henry running for the hose Turkeys can be quite the characters!

One hot night, last summer, our Slate tom flew over the fence, hunkered down in a hog bowl full of water and went to sleep. They do love the water:

Never have sprayed one for any other `bad' behavior than their wanting to hang out on luggage carrier on jeep - two rounds of concentrated spraying and they learned (never did get back up on jeep).

Cass uses a broom when working on plants - but only to keep the nosey/overly helpful turks at bay `just gotta see what is going on...'​

 

[nanawendy]

I took control of my own wits this morning and did as suggested. W/ 2 sticks herded them in and out of their coop from FR area. Each time giving them a treat when they did what I wanted. So far so good.
In a little while I'm going to feed them out of my hand...baby steps... I've tried in the past but they wouldn't get close enough. Let courage and

prevail. Thank you for your encouragement and advice. I'll keep you posted... unless I lose a .........