Jealousy, Ethnic Prejudice Or Pecking Order?

[thaiturkey]

The issue may already be resolved but the views of experienced turkey keepers of the causes of this fracas would be appreciated, please.

Until yesterday we had a happy group of five maturing poults (three bronze and two pied, give or take a few trips over the wire) and an adult bronze pair. The adults arrived only a couple of weeks ago and settled in with no problems. Last evening, in the dark and after the merry band of five had taken itself off to bed, we introduced two adult hens. They all perched quietly all night.

This morning they were let out and the male immediately mated with one of the new females. She may be a Jersey Buff. After that the bronze hen and all but one of the poults attacked her. She walked away at first but was eventually forced to fight back. The adult stag intervened to separate them when became too nasty but he still had mating with his new hen on his mind. The other new hen, looking like a pied with some slate or buff, was not involved in the fighting.

They seem to have settled now and are close together in the shade sharing food and water.

What was going on? Was the bronze hen jealous and the poults taking her part? Did the new hen's colours annoy the others? Were they all establishing a new pecking order, including the poults? It would be useful to have some experienced insight for future reference, please.

 

[thaiturkey]

The Jersey Buff had a narrow escape this lunch time. Two dogs got onto the land unseen. The darn creatures aren't controlled here. The first I knew was that she was missing when I checked them. I thought I heard her on some overgrown land next to ours and went to look. All I found was piles of feathers. We had a search party look and she was found in some undergrowth just over our boundary, still alive. Her back was bitten. The poor thing was brought up with dogs around her and probably had no fear of them.

The vet was here within 30 minutes. She had some shots and all nine had 'flu shots that were due. 200 Thai Baht (about US$6) for all of that!

Needless to say, they are all confined to barracks for the rest of the day and all is now quiet.

So, off to the hardware store for some fencing.

 

[Tala]

I do think they separate themselves by color sometimes.

 

[thaiturkey]

The saga continues.

The injured hen is very quiet today but there was one attack on her when they all emerged from the coop. The only strange behaviour this morning is from the mature hen that was here before the newcomers. She puffs up and displays like a stag and steps between 'her' stag and whichever mature hen he approaches. This look more an more like the working out of a new pecking order after the arrival of two mature hens.

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

they are just sorting out the pecking order.

Steve

 

[thaiturkey]

It certainly seems to be that way, Steve. This particular drama seems to be over and they are all foraging together happily this morning. It will be interesting to see what happens when the stag gets that twinkle in his eye and tries his luck again.

The dog attack seems to be a little different from what we thought. It seems now, after three eggs have appeared, that the poor girl was looking for somewhere to lay. Being new to the environment here she didn't know where to go and may have found a hole in the fence through to trees on neighbouring land where dogs pass by. She happily used the temporary nesting box in the coop that we made for her yesterday and is sitting there again this morning.

It's never boring, is it?

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

Quote:
Alot of people say that turkeys are dumb but about the time you think you have them figured out they change on you.

and sometimes if you listen close you can hear them laughing at you behind your back

Steve

 

[thaiturkey]

Quote:
Dumb they are not. We've kept turkeys only since the beginning of March and have already grown to respect and love them as individuals. We have learned what some of their calls mean and amuse ourselves calling to the big guy and getting his response. He just won't accept that he's not the biggest guy around! Each day brings something new for us to understand, such as the 'I want to lay and egg' chatter. Each one is different when you watch and, as they grew, each day brings something new.

Today, one of the original five fell into our pond. It had to happen sooner or later because they love to jump over the narrow stretches under some bushes. Playing chicken, I suppose. I was enjoying my retired person's afternoon nap when it happened and my wife rescued him before telling me. It's the same with children; they have to learn from mistakes sometimes and we hope that the consequences aren't dire.

What they will get up to tomorrow I have no idea. What's certain is that their servant will clean their room, feed and water them and protect them from harm. Yes, perhaps they do laugh at us behind their wings!

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

perhaps they do laugh at us behind their wings!

You have the idea now. lol

We sit out back and watch them for hours at a time.

Steve​

 

[thaiturkey]

Quote:
You have the idea now. lol

We sit out back and watch them for hours at a time.

Steve

Us too. My wife has a couple of businesses run from home. That enables us to take turns watching them and we often call each other to see the latest trick that they play.

I have noticed how they cope with the heat and strong sun by moving from place to place. They have me walking around with the feed and water, moving it to each stopping off point. They feed on grass in the open until it gets too hot and slowly make their way to the front of the house where there is shade from a big tree. If I anticipate their move there they go somewhere else so I have to wait until they settle in for the day under the tree. As the sun starts to drop between 4 and 5 pm they make their way slowly back towards the coop and I have to move the feed and water back with them. I would have to pay a lot of money for that kind of service!

Perhaps I'm too soft with them. It's not even guilty conscience because these nine won't be slaughtered. In fact, my wife is standing by her Buddhist principles and doesn't want any slaughtered, ever. I've had to point out the mathematics of reproduction in a finite space and left her to ponder the solution! I think that she still hope to sell live birds rather than oven ready ones.