My turkey attacked one of my ducks :(:( Help!

[3crazyboys]

Hi, all,

I have a black Spanish turkey named Jose. He is the sweetest thing, and we've raised him with our chickens, ducks, and guineas. He is 3 months old, and up until last week, he was cooped up for the night with the ducks (3 male Pekins and 3 female anconas) and the guineas. We went on vacation for a week and asked our neighbor to take care of everyone and to let the turkey and guineas out during the day. When we got home we found a note from our neighbor, and it said that he caught the turkey attacking one of the girls, so he separated them and put her into our pool house.

She was brutally attacked... to the point that I didn't even recognize her. One side of her face and the top of her head were covered in a thick black scab. She lost an eye and is still healing, but doing great otherwise (She's now named Willi....anyone else a Goonies fan?? lol)

Now my problem is that whenever I let the ducks out, Jose singles her out and goes after her. And only her... it's so bizarre. My ducks are my babies... but I love that silly turkey too. I have to put Jose away (in the chicken coop (when the chickens are out) or the pool house. It sucks to have to do, but I don't trust him at all anymore. We've never had a single issue with him. Otherwise, he is sweet, and loves to sit with, or on us, and is just a joy to have around, so we don't want to cull or rehome him.

Any suggestions on how to stop him from attacking her??

TIA!

 

[Abriana]

Maybe put the duck in a separate run for a while so that the turkey can see but not attack her. Maybe after a while he will grow used to having her around. If that doesn't work, maybe get some hen turkeys and put Jose in with them in a different enclosure and let the ducks/chickens/guineas live in the same enclosure.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Unfortunately when you raise turkeys with any other species they don't see the difference and will fight with them like they would another turkey. Turkeys understand turkey, not duck or chicken. I have had turkeys kill chickens when they are raised together. We butchered those turkeys and never mixed turkeys with other poultry since.

Even when raised separately turkeys will chase and harass other poultry, especially when younger. I always recommend keeping turkeys separately and only with other turkeys.

You need to separate out the turkey.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I forgot to add that your turkey is still young yet. It may start coming after you too as it sexually mature, especially if it's a Tom and it's bonded to you.