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

[Ravenworks71]

Sorry about the slow reply...They look much better this morning. I still am thinking about adding some more hens. So I guess I can expect another run at the Farmhouse Smack Down? I will be sure to give 'em gloves next time. Someone suggested I "hobble" him with velcro strips. I think this would only drag out the battle. The verdict is still out on the Tom if he goes to camp or not, and I'll just have hens for eggs. My Husband grows tired of the drama. Do hens duke it out with each other too? or at least less often?

 

[SaraF]

I havnt seen my hens duke it out much like the toms. they might do some sizing up and cooing ruff their feathers but not as bad as what you have experience.

--Just a question: does your Toms appendage (Snood) extend? From the picture he looks like a she. Maybe its just the picture, or the way i'm looking at it

 

[satay]

I was thinking the same thing. The one at the back looks like a hen. Maybe it's just the picture.

 

[longranger]

Had my first fighting fatality last week. It was a mature hen in a coop and run with some of this years early May hatch. She incubated and brooded about half of them and was a very good mama. Understandably she was dominant at first but the last few weeks she backed off giving the Jakes alpha status. Out of the clear blue the dominant young tom picked a fight with this hen. She was immediately submissive but he persisted in following her and the usual head grab stuff. Left them be as no major damage was being done. Next morning she was in such bad shape I butchered her. Her whole head was a bruise and her eyes were swollen shut. She could not even stand and the same tom continued to torment her.

No other aggresion in that pen since but I am keeping an eye on that tom. He is destined for the table so if he goes off again he will visit the freezer sooner than later.

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

Quote:
How big is your pen ranger? and how many in it? I have seen our young jakes chasing the hens here but they will jump up on the range roost or can move away.

Steve

 

[thaiturkey]

My instinct is not to dispose of an aggressive male on the grounds that he might produce some especially healthy offspring. Certainly, I wouldn't hobble him because he would be unable to defend himself against the almost inevitable attacks that he would then suffer.

I really don't like the fighting but it's no more than nature's way of keeping the strongest stags at the top of the mating order. Kill the winner and you weaken the flock.

 

[Wendy'sChicksRock]

Quote:
I was laughing so hard i almost lost it !! Sorry for your trouble but your description was awesome. hope things calm down for ya....

 

[Ravenworks71]

These are pictures of my "Tom" He has a smallish snood, but when he's feeling his oats it descends over his beak. He struts all the time, but never gobbles. He also has a 2"beard that is hidden in chest fluff. It's all broke off and clumped together, and much thicker leggs. The hen that's laying does not have a beard. So I assumed he was a boy. He's also shaped different, much bulkier. He frequently stands on her tail and buts his chest on her to make her assume the position, but after that "he" walks off leaving her to her frustration. Do I have a gender confused Turkey????Leave it to me to get the "special" one. Here are some of the most recent pic's of them. This is the day they called a truce and climbed into the waterfall for my pond for a cool down and drink.

He's the guy? on the right. (this photo is from a few months ago)

"Tom or Tiffany is on the left" I'm sooo very confused now.

 

[satay]

Those picture are better a beautiful boy and girl.

 

[Ravenworks71]

Quote:
So you think he's a he? Why the small snood? Does size really matter? LOL