Is my turkey tom being aggressive or just friendly?

[chickenannie]

Ivan and Silkie chicken (and others), I just wanted to report back that the alpha training with my Red Bourbon tom seems to be going great.

We humans all make sure to show some sign of "aggression" when we see him, whether we pick him up and put him somewhere else or use a broom, but generally he seems to be staying the required 3-4 feet away instead of coming up close. He still wants to follow us around and know what we're doing, which is fine.

I guess I thought if we were aggressive toward him he'd "learn" aggression. but what do I know -- I don't think like a turkey! I guess he's getting comfortable with his beta position.

The tom still runs alonside trucks in our farm lane, but we figured out it's only the unfamiliar vehicles. He never chases our own cars or truck. I wonder if he thinks he's "protecting" us -- kind of like a territorial dog???

 

[ivan3]

The tom still runs alonside trucks in our farm lane, but we figured out it's only the unfamiliar vehicles. He never chases our own cars or truck. I wonder if he thinks he's "protecting" us -- kind of like a territorial dog???

I'll defer to the opinion of Benjamin Franklin on this one.

Sarah, Franklin's daughter, mentioned, in a letter to her father, that the mint had struck a coin with the profile of an eagle on one side but had botched the job so badly that there was a good bit of debate as to whether the profile was that of an eagle, or of a turkey. Franklin replied to her, in part:

For my own part I wish the Eagle had not been chosen the representative of our country. He is a bird of bad moral character. He does not get his Living honestly. You may have seen him perched on some dead tree near the river, where, too lazy to fish for himself, he watches the labor of the Fishing Hawk; and when that diligent Bird has at length taken a fish, and is bearing it to his nest for the support of his mate and young ones, the Eagle pursues him and takes it from him.
With all this injustice, he is never in good case but like those among men who live by sharping & robbing he is generally poor and often very lousy. Besides he is a rank coward: The little King Bird not bigger than a Sparrow attacks him boldly and drives him out of the district. He is therefore by no means a proper emblem for the brave and honest Cincinnati of America who have driven all the King birds from our country...
"I am on this account not displeased that the figure is not known as a Eagle, but looks more like a Turkey. For the truth the Turkey is in comparison a much more respectable bird, and withal a true original native of America . . . He is besides, though a little vain & silly, a bird of courage, and would not hesitate to attack a grenadier of the British Guards who should presume to invade his farm yard with a red coat on.​

 

[Frosty]

I am late to this conversation... Tom turkeys (during breeding season) have been known to try to mate with anything and everything (including upside down feed pans). You definitely want to make sure that he sees you as the top turkey, they can be dangerous if they decide to attack. Also, folks with smaller children need to use extreme caution with children around the turks... turkeys are attracted to shiney things, and that includes childrens eyes, buttons, etc...

Bringing in a another tom WOULD keep him occupied... but his new occupation would be attacking the other tom. I don't recommend it. It could also put him in a more aggressive mood.

On another note... toms (perhaps because of their head color when they get excited?) have been known to attack blue things. So I make a habit (especially this time of the year) to not wear or carry anything blue around the boys. I had a tom once that would try to attack a blue water jug through the fence if I carried it by the pen. I figured that I was better off to use an ounce of prevention. Good luck with your boy!

 

[chickenannie]

Quote:
I'll defer to the opinion of Benjamin Franklin on this one.

Sarah, Franklin's daughter, mentioned, in a letter to her father, that the mint had struck a coin with the profile of an eagle on one side but had botched the job so badly that there was a good bit of debate as to whether the profile was that of an eagle, or of a turkey. Franklin replied to her, in part:

For my own part I wish the Eagle had not been chosen the representative of our country. He is a bird of bad moral character. He does not get his Living honestly. You may have seen him perched on some dead tree near the river, where, too lazy to fish for himself, he watches the labor of the Fishing Hawk; and when that diligent Bird has at length taken a fish, and is bearing it to his nest for the support of his mate and young ones, the Eagle pursues him and takes it from him.
With all this injustice, he is never in good case but like those among men who live by sharping & robbing he is generally poor and often very lousy. Besides he is a rank coward: The little King Bird not bigger than a Sparrow attacks him boldly and drives him out of the district. He is therefore by no means a proper emblem for the brave and honest Cincinnati of America who have driven all the King birds from our country...
"I am on this account not displeased that the figure is not known as a Eagle, but looks more like a Turkey. For the truth the Turkey is in comparison a much more respectable bird, and withal a true original native of America . . . He is besides, though a little vain & silly, a bird of courage, and would not hesitate to attack a grenadier of the British Guards who should presume to invade his farm yard with a red coat on.
​

Interesting...

 

[MissPrissy]

Excellent info. I have only raised turkey hens but my inlaws have always raised a flock of turkeys and their tom's where to be envied. I never had one try to charge or attack so this info is a plus for me because I have eggs and poults coming VERY soon!

I have read the quote many times and I am inclined very often to agree with old Ben.

 

[chickenannie]

Silkie Chicken, how are your turkey poults doing? Give us a report.

 

[silkiechicken]

Chicks are doing great! They are brave, come out to explore the world in it's 45 degree wetness that is Washington, while the Cornish sit and continue to eat, and they are still easy to catch. Two are like 14 ounces and one is like 10. They are now 2.5 weeks old. The Cornish are over a lb each. I have the chicks and the turkeys on game bird starter since I am keeping them together while they are young and it gets to nearly freezing at night. Have two lamps up and running, and it was a good idea since last week one went out and the second started too at about 3 am in the morning. Lost one cornish x to the chill that night. My guess is if they were separated and only one light was in there each... I may have lost all the ones who were under the unlucky lamp.

I've got pics but they all have to wait till I get to my own comp since this one is a pos.

 

[deeszoo]

I second what Frosty said, except I think it is prudent to pen up turkeys during breeding season. It helps keep the hens home and the toms out of mischief. They can do some real damage if they decide someone is a competitor and I have lost a couple of hens when they decided to hide their nests and never came back.

DeAnna