I need help

[ericchris]

I have one tom turkey and 3 hens and the hens keep pecking his snood and they have it rawl and i dont know what to do to keep them from pecking at him he just stands there and let them peck at him please help i can post pic if it will help

 

[Kevin565]

Yes pictures will help. Are flies getting into it? How large is their pen?

 

[ericchris]

there pen is like 50' x 25' but they get free range of my yard
william

the girls baby,debbie,honey

i just got these turkey about a month ago

 

[ericchris]

and i forgot to tell you the flies are not getting into it

 

[erinszoo]

Get some Blue Kote at Tractor Supply or Atwoods and spray or paint it on. They'll leave it alone for now. It looks like they get plenty of grass to nibble on so I'm not sure what else to tell you to try. We have a couple of turkeys that bite at our fingers no matter what. We just try to keep them out of reach.

 

[ericchris]

thanks i have tried the blue kote and it not working all i know to do now is try to keep him out of the pen with the hens

 

[ChickSter99]

thanks i have tried the blue kote and it not working all i know to do now is try to keep him out of the pen with the hens

Have you tried an anti-pick spray like 'Hot Pick'? I don't have turkeys yet so, I don't know if you can use it on them or not. I have chickens and when they get to acting up and picking and pecking that's what I use. It tastes awful so, when they peck what it's on they constantly wipe their beaks like they are saying' "Yuck". I do know that if you have asthma it might be a good idea to let someone else do the spraying. My son can't help me with this part when we spray the 'Hot-Pick' because the pepper smell gets him. I think it's all natural but I'm not sure. It still bothers him. When it is really really bad and I see lots of blood and meat, I have to break out the 'Blue Kote' and dab some on. You can always tell the pecker or picker because they will have a purple beak when you check back. That's how I found out which BR chick de-tail feathered my Welsummer chick and de-wing feathered my Austrolorp chick. I got my anti-peck spray from Meyer hatchery.

 

[ericchris]

thanks alot

 

[ChickSter99]

thanks alot

I hope you find something for him. I know how frustrating it is to have peckers or pickers. It will make you crazy trying to protect the one that is getting picked on. Keep us posted.

 

[Haunted55]

Have you tried an anti-pick spray like 'Hot Pick'? I don't have turkeys yet so, I don't know if you can use it on them or not. I have chickens and when they get to acting up and picking and pecking that's what I use. It tastes awful so, when they peck what it's on they constantly wipe their beaks like they are saying' "Yuck". I do know that if you have asthma it might be a good idea to let someone else do the spraying. My son can't help me with this part when we spray the 'Hot-Pick' because the pepper smell gets him. I think it's all natural but I'm not sure. It still bothers him. When it is really really bad and I see lots of blood and meat, I have to break out the 'Blue Kote' and dab some on. You can always tell the pecker or picker because they will have a purple beak when you check back. That's how I found out which BR chick de-tail feathered my Welsummer chick and de-wing feathered my Austrolorp chick. I got my anti-peck spray from Meyer hatchery.

You can also use something called bitter orange. You'll find it in the dog section of a pet store or TS. I can't remember the brand name but the ingredient that stops the picking is the bitter orange. Fairly cheap as well. It is nasty, I tried a taste of it myself just to see and it's pretty bad. I have used it for over a year now on my chickens and there is no ill effects from it except the birds do not like the taste and the picking stops. I start with the blue kote then also spray with the bitter orange. May have to do it a couple of times no matter what you use. Turkeys can be very persistent. If you can catch them at it, try to grab their beak and hold it closed while telling them no. Sounds stupid but I've had to do it a few time for different and the same reason and they will learn the word "no" and stop. Again, it's not instantaneous. One other thing I have used in the past with turkeys is vaseline mixed with dried hot peppers. They do not like that at all and it's not something you'd want to put on an open wound. If you can get the poor bugger healed up a little and they still go after him you can try that.