I think my BR Tom killed another BR Tom

[boxermom]

I just let the birds out for the day. Not 10 minutes later, my DH called into the house and said we have a dead turkey. I went out and all the turks were pecking the dead one. He had been healthy, no issues. DH is bleeding him out. Can we eat him? We don't know how he died for sure. Also, the other 2 Toms started fighting very hard. I had to lock 1 back up in the barn. Now I have to figure what to do w/ him. Might be easier just to process. I think all this started because 1 hen started laying for them yesterday. I didn't think they would get too aggressive w/ each other so fast, especially since they have been raised together.

 

[pdpatch]

They may have been trying to get the Male up and moving after it died.

Earlier this year we had our Female Red Bourbon get her leg caught in the pen. The rest nearly pecked her to death trying to get her up and moving. She is still recovering after a month.

Depending on what position the male was in the pecking order the others are trying to move up. Some times they try to jump a couple of positions in the order after one dies or is butchered.

if you have only two toms left, they will fight all the time, so you need to separate them. The will never be the lowest in the pecking order, so they will be constantly trying to chage the pecking order by fighting.

1 toms ok
2 toms fight all the time
3 toms ok.

Tom

 

[boxermom]

Thanks Tom,
We ended up processing the other Tom too. The big boy out weighed the first one by 2X and he out weighed the 2nd by about 8lbs. I don't know if the first one had his neck snapped or if his neck was held just right to suffocate him. The only mark I found was about a 1 in. slice across his back. I don't believe that was life threatening. He had been completely healthy, and everything looke good when I cleaned him. We are going to have him for Thanksgiving. I'm glad all this is done. I knew I was going to have a hard time with it. I really love those turkeys! I do miss all of the gobbling.

 

[SimplyForties]

Time to get some new poults!

 

[boxermom]

I'll have to wait until Spring...

Is it Spring yet?

 

[ScoobyRoo]

pdpatch, I'm not sure I agree with the 'tring to get them up and moving'. I have observed mine and my DH has seen it in the wild (he turkey hunts) Whenever we have an injured bird, chicken, duck, geese or turkeys they will chase, flog and peck at the injured bird to the point of more severe injuries. My DH says when he shoots one in the wild the other toms and jakes immediately flogs the dead bird. We had 7 BS that always had a pick of the week. One week they would gang up on our BB turkey the next our BO roo. Processed some of those meanies and things are a little better. That is JMO.

 

[chickenannie]

I agree... I have never seen turkeys try to get others "up and moving". In fact if they perceive a weakness or injury they attack and can become vicious toward the weak injured one. My 4 month old toms ganged up and killed a 4-week old poult this summer by slicing it open at the back of the head. And they kept scratching and pecking at it after it was dead until I could get it away. It was ugly behavior by my normall well-mannered toms. Their social groupings are VERY important to them. (I had kept the 2 groups separated, but it was during the hour I let the babies out for a romp with thier mom and unfortunately the older toms located their romping area before I realized what was happening.) It didn't ever happen again!