Poult imprinted on Chick?

[Sleek28]

So I️ have a 7 week old chick that is a bit of a runt that stays in the incubator inside so that I️ can give her vitamins. My 2 day old turkey poult is all alone so we put her in the incubator to keep Kevin company. Now Kevin has always enjoyed the younger chicks vs the ones her age because they are a lot bigger. But it seems that my poult has imprinted on Kevin. The poult is constantly attached to Kevin and if it isn’t it will be screaming. I️ think Kevin finds it annoying that the poult is trying to get under her.

Are there any repercussions that might come from this?
Is this normal? Kevin doesn’t have any mother instincts yet

Darn, I️ was really hoping she would imprint on me.

Just thought I️ would share.
Thanks!
DC

 

[Willow2253]

That’s pretty cute. As long as they’re getting along, and both learning how to bird just fine, I don’t see any detriment to either of them.

 

[R2elk]

The problem with having a poult imprint on a chick is that when the poult grows into a turkey, it will not be able to understand that there is a difference between itself and chickens. This can lead to harm to chickens when the turkey is much bigger than the chickens. If the turkey turns out to be a male, it can lead to "flat" chickens during breeding season.

It can also be bad if the poult imprints on a person too. You really don't want a turkey sized bird that does not have respect for you and doesn't understand that there is a difference between you and the turkey and it decides to challenge you for a higher place in the pecking order.

Turkeys are very social birds and do best with more of their own kind. You should not raise a turkey by itself unless you are planning on processing it for food.

 

[Sleek28]

That’s pretty cute. As long as they’re getting along, and both learning how to bird just fine, I don’t see any detriment to either of them.

Alrighty thank you! I️ wasn’t really expecting 2 different birds with such an age gap to get along so well. Kevin seems to not adore the baby stubbornness as much because she just wants to sleep

 

[Willow2253]

Alrighty thank you! I️ wasn’t really expecting 2 different birds with such an age gap to get along so well. Kevin seems to not adore the baby stubbornness as much because she just wants to sleep

You should probably listen to r2elk’s advice more than mine, I’m sure they have more experience than I do.

 

[birdlover2]

So I️ have a 7 week old chick that is a bit of a runt that stays in the incubator inside so that I️ can give her vitamins. My 2 day old turkey poult is all alone so we put her in the incubator to keep Kevin company. Now Kevin has always enjoyed the younger chicks vs the ones her age because they are a lot bigger. But it seems that my poult has imprinted on Kevin. The poult is constantly attached to Kevin and if it isn’t it will be screaming. I️ think Kevin finds it annoying that the poult is trying to get under her.

Are there any repercussions that might come from this?
Is this normal? Kevin doesn’t have any mother instincts yet

Darn, I️ was really hoping she would imprint on me.

View attachment 2198740View attachment 2198741

Just thought I️ would share.
Thanks!
DC

Well...I suppose you shouldn't seperate them now that imprinting has occured. If Kevin gets aggressive of course seperate them, but every bird is an individual, and every case is an individual. Moniter them closely.

 

[Sleek28]

The problem with having a poult imprint on a chick is that when the poult grows into a turkey, it will not be able to understand that there is a difference between itself and chickens. This can lead to harm to chickens when the turkey is much bigger thn the chickens. If the turkey turns out to be a male, it can lead to "flat" chickens during breeding season.

It can also be bad if the poult imprints on a person too. You really don't want a turkey sized bird that does not have respect for you and doesn't understand that there is a difference between you and the turkey and decides to challenge you for a higher place in the pecking order.

Turkeys are very social birds and do best with more of their own kind. You should not raise a turkey by itself unless you are planning on processing it for food.

Interesting, I️ raise my tom alone as I️ was unable to get a partner for him until later on. He is the sweetest turkey out of any of them. He loves hugs and comes when I️ call his name. He acts as if I’m one of his hens, he loves to strut for me. We got him a hen who is also very social with people and they adore each other. Fast forward several years, my hen raised some poults and we ended up keeping a second pair. The Toms are not kept together. The one that got raised with the others, by the turkey, seems to be on a power trip and hates me.

Well...I suppose you shouldn't seperate them now that imprinting has occured. If Kevin gets aggressive of course seperate them, but every bird is an individual, and every case is an individual. Moniter them closely.

I️ have been keeping an eye on them. They seem to be doing great. Kevin has been showing the turkey how to eat and drink.

Thanks
DC