Pecking my hens up....

[Martin Sandison]

Hi there everyone!!
I have a turkey pecking one of my hens till she is bleeding, it's also the same turkey that won't go up to roost at night, he just sets himself down in the house on the shavings.
I would say his eyesight doesn't seem great, as he doesn't seem to see the roosts?
Thanks
Martin

 

[Cheyen]

I don't know about the eyesight part, but it sounds to me like someone needs a trip to freezer camp.

Lol, just kidding. I have a big ladder type roost for my frizzles and silkies since the can't fly as well. They jump from the lowest rung until they get to the top with the others. It looks like this:



That might solve your roosting problem.

Ad for the pecking, I would separate him from her, especially since turkeys can be so much bigger than little hens. Put him in a separate run or just supervise him when he's around her. He's trying to be dominate, so I'm going to assume it can be fixed the same way you fix a roo. If one of my roos gets rough with a lady, I gently remind him that they're my girls and not his! I poke him firmly on the rump with a stick whenever he gets mean, and he leaves her alone for a while. If he does it again, I poke him again. Eventually he learns that I'm the big roo, and he's only second in command, so he had better behave himself. Good luck!

 

[Fat Man]

I have a ladder roost and everyone insists on the top wrung. If they can't get a place their the find some where else. What breed is your turkey Martin? If it's a broad breasted maybe it's to big to get up there.

 

[Martin Sandison]

Thanks for the replies!!
The turkeys are just bronze, possibly a partial cross, as their tail and wing feathers are a little different to others I've seen.
I do think he is behaving odd, he hangs out with them all, jumps on the wall, but won't go on his perch, possibly his eyes are not good in the dark?
I wish they would stop roosting on the house roof too! Haha!