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

[ivan3]

`Splash' girl: http://www.porterturkeys.com/blueslateselfblue.htm

Upper back and neck looks to have new feathers coming in- dense on leading edges (did you see a lot of new quills/feather nubs coming in on lower abdomen or flanks when checking vent?). These guys can look pretty frowzy when `exploding' (going through heavy molt - ours are doing so at present).

If he's not charging some exorbitant price and you can keep her quarantined it might work out (supplement regular feed with some starter to move molting along - as he free ranged and you don't know what he's been feeding she might be a bit undernourished).

I'd be more worried about being slipped a healthy 5-6yr. old in place of a 1.5yr old (though the one in your pic doesn't appear too awfully `staid').

ed:sp

 

[Ravenworks71]

She's standing off balance, and she's ready to flip out again (trying to escape). His other birds were all quite active and only two had shabby feathers (out a a dozen or so).He has a black mottled Tom that was struttin' all over the place, but he too was missing most of his tail. He was primarily range feeding them and supplementing them with layer pellets and scratch. She is quarantined right now at a friends place away from other birds. Does anyone think she's pretty? Or has potential? I'm divided on her right now, thinking she looks a bit like an Ostrich.

I have to admit, I felt bad for her and could not leave her there. I know....sucker born every minute.

 

[Ravenworks71]

Quote:
She has a bunch of pin's coming in on her back and the tail feathers she has are all new. There just really short. I have been to the porters site, and all the pictures are beautiful!
I want one of each!

 

[ivan3]

Just up her protein level and observe for anything untoward. Hoping your choice was inspired

Good luck!

 

[OmaBird]

Many hens look a mess this time of year. They have all the breed marks on there backs if they did not were a saddle. If they went broody some look pretty shabby. But in a month they should be look about as good as they get.

 

[Turkeyrangler]

My adult tom is finished with molting and my hen is about halfway there. They look pretty shabby, but my tom looked worse than your hen by a bit. Keep her quarantined for a month to be sure that she is healthy if you can.

 

[thaiturkey]

We bought from three different sources to start our flock and found that all of the birds have all come on well with us. I put that down to better care - a good diet, clean coops and perhaps even the attention that we give them. Our first five poults came with infections from mosquito bites and the vet gave them only a 50% chance of survival. They all picked up with his help and are now breeding.

My point is that, having got your turkey, provided that you give her the right feed and any medication that she might need, she will probably do well with you and you will be proud of your achievement. Probably her nervous behaviour is caused by the recent separation from her flock. Turkeys are not loners and need company. When she finally moves to you she may go through that again but will settle down once she becomes familiar with her new surroundings and trusts you. Be patient.

 

[Ravenworks71]

Thank you everyone! I will be patient. For now she's in quarantine and so far so good. (other than being nervous) She looks shabby, yet healthy. I hope she will blossom into a beautiful bird.

 

[gettinaclue]

How is she doing now? Have her feathers filled out any?

 

[Ravenworks71]

She didn't work out. Everyone picked on her, including my chickens. They managed to pick two holes, one on her back and one on her wing. I found her a new home. She has bonded with a chicken and is doing very well.

I have discovered that I have gender confused hens. The smaller Hen gobbles...especially when I'm out working with a hammer on fences (or making loud noises), the larger one that I thought was a Tom...has a beard and a larger snood, and struts all the time, layed and egg right in front of me while walking. Like, oooppps what was that? oh, look a bug dah dee dum.

I will try again next year for a Tom, but I think I want to go with Royal Palm next time.