Help with introducing pullets to female turkey

[WordHulveyHomestead]

We unfortunately had to cull our tom bronze breasted turkey as he became extremely aggressive to us, and basically every other living thing we have.

We have the sweetest female (same breed) turkey and are getting a few more females for her to have a small flock.

Now that the tom is gone the roosters seem to be chasing her off a bit. We are hoping some new friends might help with that.

What is the best way to introduce the pullets and when?

We usually wait about 4 months with chics and very gradually introduce them to the flock (keeping them in the yard where the others can see them but they are separated). Is it the same with turkeys? How do we introduce her to the new arrivals?

*We have 5 pullets (who will only be a few days old) arriving in 2 weeks.*

 

[R2elk]

We unfortunately had to cull our tom bronze breasted turkey as he became extremely aggressive to us, and basically every other living thing we have.

We have the sweetest female (same breed) turkey and are getting a few more females for her to have a small flock.

Now that the tom is gone the roosters seem to be chasing her off a bit. We are hoping some new friends might help with that.

What is the best way to introduce the pullets and when?

We usually wait about 4 months with chics and very gradually introduce them to the flock (keeping them in the yard where the others can see them but they are separated). Is it the same with turkeys? How do we introduce her to the new arrivals?

*We have 5 pullets (who will only be a few days old) arriving in 2 weeks.*

Turkeys are poults. Pullets are chickens.

Turkey poults will need to be under heat until they are fully feathered and acclimated to the ambient temperature.

If your Broad Breasted Bronze hen (no such thing as a Bronze Breasted turkey) is broody, you can try placing her in the same room/enclosure with the new poults to see if she will accept the new poults. You will quickly know if it is going to work. Signs that she is willing to accept them will be her making a cooing, pleading sound as she tries to get them to accept her. If she starts pecking at them, immediately end the experiment and remove her from the area.

I do not like to use Broad Breasted turkeys for adopting very young poults because they cannot move their feet and legs as daintily as can heritage turkeys. This can lead to poults getting stepped on and squashed.

If she doesn't adopt the poults, wait until they are at least 4 weeks old before trying again.

People imprinting turkey poults can lead to issues when they are adults because it removes their ability to understand that people are not turkeys and the turkeys (especially males) can become aggressive to people. It has also been shown that improper food can cause aggression in turkeys.

Food Effect on Aggressive Turkeys

 

[WordHulveyHomestead]

Thank you for the education and advice.