Keeping Toms together

[waddles99]

I was wondering, can you keep male turkeys together? My knowledge is mainly in chickens, and I know that If roosters don't have a harem of hens they will fight. Ive seen pics of beautiful flocks that are mostly Toms, but I was wondering, If i kept 4-6 Toms together with no females would they fight?

Space they would get would be about 150' x 50', or 7500. It is in the woods too, they aren't that thick but maybe could provide some kind of physical structure to reduce fighting?

 

[chknoodles]

Turkeys have a pecking order just like chickens and males will be males...they will mock fight, drag each other around by the snood, chest bump and charge each other, but other than a few scrapes and bumps, they generally will get along just fine as long as there are no females around. Obviously the bigger then pen, the better.

 

[waddles99]

Turkeys have a pecking order just like chickens and males will be males...they will mock fight, drag each other around by the snood, chest bump and charge each other, but other than a few scrapes and bumps, they generally will get along just fine as long as there are no females around. Obviously the bigger then pen, the better.

Good to hear. I figured it was a similar deal to chickens, just wanted to make sure.

 

[duluthralphie]

And what happen if there are females around?


Can 2 toms be in the same coop?

 

[waddles99]

And what happen if there are females around?


Can 2 toms be in the same coop?

I think that the hens actually contribute to the aggression if i read chknoodles post right. The Toms compete for the female's attention and it is better if you just have all Toms with no females. Of course, if you're not gonna butcher them everyone wants Toms because they look nicer.

 

[duluthralphie]

I have my original Tom and I have 5 Toms hatched this spring. 4 of those 5 are going to be guests of honor at Thanksgiving day dinners.

I want to keep 2 over winter for breeding next spring.

 

[waddles99]

Cool. I'm not into butchering my animals since I would get too attached, but I bet the meat sure is tasty!