Narragansett Tom is attacking husband/males

[kperki]

Hi,
We are new to Turkeys. We have chickens. Someone volunteered us to take a turkey as the owners were moving and could not take him. He is a 5 yr old male Narragansett. We were told that his mate was killed/disappeared 3 yrs ago and since then he attacks men. We thought well we will get him female company other than myself and he will be ok. We had a hard time finding adult females so two weeks after having him we got two adult females. First day he ignored them and still tried to attack my husband. 2nd day he still had nothing to do with them. That evening we had to treat his scaly leg mites and he was not a happy camper. He went into the pen at bed time and tried to pull a few feathers on the new females. It is just the three in there. I distracted him and he finally went to sleep.
Today he ignored everyone. They free range so in the evening we started herding the girls to the turkey pen and the girls reluctantly went in. He went in and started attacking them, pulling feathers, neck wringing you name it. The girls went crazy flying into the wire etc. I tried calming him then backing outside pen and he would do it again. I had to go grab him and put him in the barn. One hen had a little blood on her neck.
I don't know what to do with him. He tries to jump women and attack men! I want to try and help him so he is happy. My husband is ready to throw in the towel..

Help!! What can I do?

Thanks

 

[CrazyChickLady7]

Have your husband grab him by the feet and hold him upside down. It naturally relaxed and if you do it in front of the females, it shames them.

 

[kperki]

I will have him try it. He is gone for a few days. Is this move about showing him dominance or just shaming him in front of the hens? If it is about making him be nice to the hens could I do it until my husband gets home? I am afraid to put him in with the hens again after last night. Would it be best when I put them in the pen tonight to bring him in by his feet and then sit him down and see how does with them?

Also when we first got him my husband tried showing him dominance like you do a rooster by putting them between your legs head down and making them submit. It didn't work he still attacks him and try's to hump me...

Thanks

 

[thegawd]

off with his head! he will not change. tom turkeys are set in there ways.... I have 1 VERY nice beltsville small white tom and one that wants to attack my 3 year old son... the mean ones fate is currently up in the air, hes been locked up in a horse stall with other misfit roosters. see I want to keep him but not if he is going to attack anyone especially my 3 year old... pretty sure hes going to the freezer its just such a shame because he is completely unrelated to the rest of my flock.

good luck but I would throw in the towel as well. mean birds dont get live and other than that Tom every single other bird on the farm is completely nice and dont attack anyone and i have a couple hundred birds here... I have accomplished this by removing there heads. do not breed aggressive birds as he will pass on his aggressive behavior.

 

[CrazyChickLady7]

I will have him try it. He is gone for a few days. Is this move about showing him dominance or just shaming him in front of the hens? If it is about making him be nice to the hens could I do it until my husband gets home? I am afraid to put him in with the hens again after last night. Would it be best when I put them in the pen tonight to bring him in by his feet and then sit him down and see how does with them?

Also when we first got him my husband tried showing him dominance like you do a rooster by putting them between your legs head down and making them submit. It didn't work he still attacks him and try's to hump me...

Thanks

It shows both shame and dominance. Afterwards, if he tries to do his little dance thing, flip him over and do it again.

 

[kperki]

So I do that if he is trying to court me or attack the other hens? Both and either?
Thanks!

 

[CrazyChickLady7]

Both. But your husband should be the one doing it most of the time.

 

[kperki]

Ok so he would do it when Tom courts me or attacks the girls.

I will try it until he gets back in town. If he still attacks the hens I will make him sleep separate in the barn.
Thanks

 

[CrazyChickLady7]

Anytime...cause I'm probably on