In love with my broad breasted turkey

[coryspacecowboy]

I've been keeping chickens for a couple years now. About a year and a half ago I got 2 broad breasted turkeys, one seemed lethargic from the start and died right away and the other has kept growing and growning non stop. He's now a year a half old and is huge. His toes look swollen his feet are getting so fat. Ignorantly I bought the birds at the store intending on them to to be pets unaware they were genetically doomed.. I'm so attached to him it's ridiculous.. I bought another turkey for him so hed have another one.. it's broad breasted too and a few months old and I love her to death too. I guess my first question is, do I need to keep these turkeys separated? He doesn't seem interested in mating with her, but he'd kill her if he were to try I'd imagine. And secondly, is my big guy in a lot of pain? How can you tell? Like I heard their legs can give out.. is it logical to assume he's miserable or should I wait until he is obviously in pain. I feel like it's really hard to tell what a bird is feeling, they can't show emotions with their face like we can. I don't want to put him down but I don't want him to be forced to live in pain either. He seems fine for now, just a little off balanced if he trusts walking fast. Just curious as to any advice on how to know when the most humane time is to.. you know

 

[Fanci Feathers Marans]

I had a couple hens that lived for a few years, and even laid a couple eggs. They couldn't keep up with the chickens, though. Personally, I don't like the non broad-breasted turkeys because they tend to get into mischief.

I think he's more likely to die from a heart attack than leg problems, though.

 

[Molpet]

birds hide pain.. a weak member of a flock is a liability and is driven off in the wild.