Is this common?

[Jheem13]

Our broody bourbon red hatched out some poults recently. For the first 2 weeks we kept her and the babies separated. After letting her and the babies join the flock, the tom has taken over raising them.

He walks with them everywhere, takes them in to roost before anyone else... even extends his wing over them. I think all our hens are slightly jealous since he has quit courting them!

Does this occur very often in turkeys?

 

[feedman77]

Not gonna say often. But I had a tom last year that would not roost.

He slept on the ground. When I had poults running around he would make calld to them and when they came up to him he would let let them under him and and if they didn't get under him he would put his wing over them. Best momma/daddy I had. The babies werent even his.