please explain odd turkey behavior

[farmgirl77]

I have three 6 mo old BR females and one tom. Today I let them out and one of the females immediately layed down. After a few minutes she got up and flew over to the other girls, apparently fine. Every so often she would lay down. I was taking down tomato cages and the three females came over. When I squatted down to talk to them she layed down again. I petted her and she didn't mind. I sat down and tried to get her to stand and she wouldn't, but I know she can. As I was trying to examine her I noticed she was spreading her wings and shaking them and making a funny soft sound. The only thing I can think of is that it looks kind of like when the chickens settle on their eggs. I was not expecting eggs till spring. None of the females are remotely interested in the tom's displays, although he thinks he's fantastic. These are my first turkeys. I would love to hear some opinions. I hope she's okay.

 

[Omniskies]

She's fine. That's how the turkey hens sit in order to be mounted by their Romeo. They will accept the affections of anyone when they become that eager for love. I've seen bantam roosters mounting them and they will politely sit and wait for the little thing to figure it out (the bantams never do).

I wouldn't worry about her at all.

 

[farmgirl77]

why is she not interested in the tom, then? Maybe I have just missed it?

 

[MovieFanz]

I would say she is feeling some hormone changes but she is in a transition stage right now. The Tom will not be in full swing until spring either.

 

[RAREROO]

Yep, thats normal, its not the right time of year for her to be intersted or you just may be missing it like you said, but when they are in breeding season hens will often squatt like that to be mounted and fold their hard wing feathers over their backs to protect their backs from the tom, and they will even squatt for people sometimes like yours did. Also when they do start breeding, after the tom breeds her and gets off it is normal for the hens to sometimes fluff up like a tom and strut around so dont freak out when you see your hens fluffed up like toms.

 

[ivan3]

Hormones just kicking in. Pick her up when she's `presenting', she'll `purr' , sounding somewhat like the `motor' vocalization of a happy cat. In the Spring, if you catch them breeding, you'll know it has been successfully dispatched as the jennie/hen will stand up and run around a bit making a high pitched series of `pweet'(s).

 

[Ravenworks71]

My Hens always freeze and squat in the worst places for me. I used to freak out, I thought something was wrong with them. But as time went on and several posts on BYC, I realized they thought I was their man. Even the lawnmower, rake and shovel could be a man! One of my hens struts, gobbles, has a beard and lays eggs. Talk about confusing Not much for brains, but I still love my Turkeys!

 

[ShadyHoller]

This thread is a hoot!

Our hens and toms are also trying to figure it out by trial and error. The hens try squatting for us, the toms can't figure out the difference between forward from backward, and the whole thing is a big parody.

Silly turkeys.

 

[chickenannie]

Quote:
Ravenworks, I like your avatar! Turkeys have such great heads... kind of ugly and prehistoric and cute all at the same time!

 

[Ravenworks71]

Chickenannie, thanks for the compliment! It's a self portrait! I never thought I would love a Turkey soooo much until I raised 'em.