new to turkeys

[EZFarms]

My friend gave me a bronze breasted Tom and he's panting/wheezing when he walks around? No other symptoms (no swelling in face,etc) I'd the panting/wheezing just a normal thing fit Turks?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

The broad breasted get so heavy they can develop heart problems and leg problems, they were never meant to live past their first year, about all you can do is limit his food and see if you can get him to exercise a bit, if kept a bit lighter in weight they can possibly live longer.

 

[EZFarms]

So the wheezing is just from his weight?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

If there's no other signs of respiratory problems than that would be my best guess. Turkeys make different vocalizations and a few can sound like wheezing. I don't have broad breasted, so hopefully someone more familiar with them will let you know what they think.

 

[EZFarms]

He does it when he walks alot and makes a huffing sound when he struts. He puffs uo at me it's that aggression or just a male thing?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

When they are displaying they make a chest rumble, accompanied by a spitty sound, and off course the gobble. All my toms will display when I talk to them, they follow and display, making sure to side face you, and fanning the tail towards you.

Turkey aggression shows differently than chicken aggression, so he's not being aggressive just showing off, when they are aggressive it's usually a side display, with the feathers about half way out and they make a certain trilling call, though I've not ever actually been at the receiving end, just watched it between two turkeys. Love to see pictures of your big boy.

 

[memphis]

I agree...we want to see pictures!

 

[EZFarms]

He's doing the first one. He follows and struts along with doing the right and spitting sound

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

he is quite the big pretty boy. Looks healthy to me. Just don't let him eat ration or grains all day and let him free range a bit and he might last a few years.

 

[EZFarms]

I brought him out today and he waddled around the yard with me by his side (otherwise he'd gobble til he found me) and ate some greens poking out of the snow then sat in the sun then after a bit i took him back to his pen. I have to supervise because I have chickens and ducks as well and my muscovy state was hissing at him all today