Help... He's charging me

[karimw]

I got a pair of bronze toms last fall that got kind of nasty this spring when the hen started setting. If they were puffed up and displaying it was OK, but if they decided to attack they slicked down and went for our legs making that chee chee trill. If we walked away they would try to get in front of us and leap up with claws and wings beating. We tried everything to retrain them but nothing worked except sending one to freezer camp. They seem to have a pack mentality, so when the remaining tom lost his partner he settled down quite a bit. I've got a bunch of young ones now that I raised myself, so I hope we'll have less problems.

 

[nanawendy]

***UPDATE*** I have 2 new best friends. THEY LOVE ME... THEY REALLY DO... And today we chatted and cooed and they continued to do that gutteral thud deep in the chest, it seems to be a call of sorts. But aimed @ me. I had some tiny tomatoes for my Toms

They almost took them from me. I do have to admit... I have to do alot of self talk... other wise I would turn and run.I can't ever remember being hurt or afraid of a farm animal. Oh well, don't think ~ DO ~ I'm loving my new found friends... Thank you all so very much. This change of attitude makes my day much easier... as I spend most of the day in the garden , coops , or runs.

 

[yadaguhtoo]

So glad to hear that nanawendy! They really can be sweet birds. Do be a little careful when trying to feed them by hand though, my tom has got overly excited a couple of times and drawn blood....he didn't do it to be mean at all but boy can they peck hard sometimes. Best of luck to you and your new best friends

 

[racuda]

Try hand feeding them chunks of scrambled egg. Mine go nuts over it.

 

[ivan3]

yadaguhtoo wrote: Do be a little careful when trying to feed them by hand though, my tom has got overly excited a couple of times and drawn blood....he didn't do it to be mean at all but boy can they peck hard sometimes

Good point. Unless the `treat' is a moving one, dropping the treat from one hand onto the open palm of the other is a good idea (avoid accidentally `loosened' nails).​

 

[nanawendy]

Yeah... got a little scared today. I had soaked bread (stale bread from Avenue Bread Co. stuff the food bank throws out) Even when I put it in front of me they kept coming. Probably wanting what was in the bowl. So I threw it all down and hurried away.

one step forward 2 back.

 

[ivan3]

Keep practicing treating them like they are your turkeys, and bye and bye they will be:

 

[nanawendy]

awwwww That gives me hope. I do know this is MY problem.

 

[yadaguhtoo]

nanawendy don't be afraid to push them back if they get to pushy with you.When I feed my turkeys they can get really excited and I will push them back with my knee or my hand if I have one available. They can be intimidating sometimes but just try to think of them as say maybe a puppy that needs to learn its boundaries. They will push you around if you let them, you just have to show them you are boss. I really don't think they are trying to hurt you in anyway, they are still pretty young. You can do this! I have faith in you

 

[nanawendy]

Ok... so I put on my big girl panties and approached w/ a loving but firm hand..... What does it mean when the Top Tom backs up stomping his feet w/ his head kind of down. He wasn't in display mode but wasn't fully slicked down. At first I thought he was sick and going to topple over (I had just let them into the yard from their large coop/run area) His feet were just stomping like a kid throwing a tantrum.