Knock down Drag outs! Is this severity of fights normal???

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

They are over heated from fighting. I just let ours go and they stop after awhile. Poultry heal amazingly fast, the only wounds I have ever treated were mating cuts.

Steve

 

[Ravenworks71]

Thank you once again Steve! I know, I need to just leave them alone and stop being so doting right? They are both so exhausted they are just staring at each other and cooing every now and again. How long should this go on? How long do I let this go on before I take him out of the equation? Should I buy a couple more hens?

 

[OmaBird]

Quote:
It can. Thats my guess since she just started laying. Her hormones are out of wack. Turkey hens can get a type of PCOF (polycystic ovarian follicle) and other things that effect there hormones. I once had a mare that I was told had a Granulosa Cell Tumor after she foaled. These tumors secreted testosterone. She acted just like a stallion and would even mount mares. She got real wicked mean. I was told I needed a $4,000 surgery. I even made the appointment for surgery. The darn thing went away before her surgery, and she retured to her sweet self.

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

Quote:
Now that they have tired each other out it should calm down just be warned that when you put them back together the chances are pretty good they will go back at it. More birds will change everything. They figure out a pecking order at a young age and pretty much stick to it unless a bird gets hurt or sick or an up an coming youngster wants to challenge. With turkey mating it's hens choice, they are like chickens. The hen will lay down for the tom of her choice.

You aren't being overly doting. You can leave them seperated for awhile and see what happens you can never say 100% what will happen. When our bronze toms fight and they get a good kick in you can hear the thump from a ways. You would think they will kill each other but they haven't yet.

Steve

 

[Ravenworks71]

Things have finally simmered down. The hens face is grossly swollen and bloody.She's quite lethargic as well.

Will adding more hens change everything in a bad way Steve? What if they are a different breed? I found someone local that has some extra Slate hens. I don't know much about that one. I hate being a noob, but we all have to start somewhere I suppose. Thank you everyone for all the support (again) LOL

 

[Tunastopper]

Adding Slate hens to your bronze tom will produce Red Slates. They are one of my biggest sellers. You can see a picture on Porters site.

 

[SaraF]

What usually works for me when my toms get this bad is to 'embarass' the more dominate bird, in this case its your tom. Their pen should be the hens territory too and she should be scared or him. I do believe your hen may have to much male hormones and it should grow out with age. (i've never seen hens gobble, but ocassionally strut at other animals, like my goose) Let the hen get her bearings and feel better, heal and get the feel of the pen without him. She will feel "this is my pen" I usually bring my dominate bird hanging by its feet, i'm not sure if you have ever seen this done. If not- you take the tom between your legs, head first so the tail is facing out toward your feet. bend over, and grab its shanks of its legs, and pull up toward your chest. he will flap but hold on, he will stop. then take him into the pen. He should loose his "im big and bad" look, and the upside down holding with scare him and stress him a little, his face might turn whiter, or redder but its fine. Still holding onto his legs, set him down on his chest but dont let go of those legs. He needs to learn this is not his territory and he must respect you and the hen. let the hen come over and if she wants to beat on him, let her. He cant fight back, and he needs to feel her dominace in this too. Let him go and see what happens. If they go back to their regular thing I would keep them separated till he matures.

---Sorry for posting this late

I didnt know the situation was solved. Good Luck!

 

[Ravenworks71]

I will give it a try, though He's a big boy...I will make sure to remember to lift with MY legs LOL. They have both stopped, but I think out of exhaustion...for now.

 

[Ravenworks71]

Her "better side". The Tom is in the background.

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

No adding more hens won't change things in a bad way it just shakes the social order up and they will figure it out again. From your pic they haven't done any major damage. It will heal up in no time.

Steve