Putting chicks in enclosure with male turkey?

[Peevesmom]

i have 4 week old turkey poults. I temporarily moved them into a new enclosure with the female turkey when they hatched just in case the male turkey would want to injure them. They all free roam during the daytime. I was wondering if I could finally move them all into the same enclosure at night? Or would the male most likely kill them?

 

[R2elk]

i have 4 week old turkey poults. I temporarily moved them into a new enclosure with the female turkey when they hatched just in case the male turkey would want to injure them. They all free roam during the daytime. I was wondering if I could finally move them all into the same enclosure at night? Or would the male most likely kill them?

The only way to learn the tom's reaction is to let them all in the same area while you closely observe what happens. If the tom is aggressive toward the poults, you will want to be able to immediately step in and separate them.

My experience with 4 week old poults with their mother is that unless they get cornered, they can quickly get out of the way and the hen is likely to still be very protective of them. I currently have 4 week old poults with a hen and am allowing them to free range with everyone else but they do get put back in their separate pen every night.

Good luck.

 

[TurkeyTimes]

Honestly I've had more success with toms being nice and taking care of babies than hens. I incubate and pull eggs daily, no hens have hatched out a clutch so that could have a lot to do with it. All depends on the temperament of the bird. Supervise and intervene if necessary.

 

[Peevesmom]

Update: I ended up putting them all in the same 12x12 enclosure (nighttime only) and my Tom has been really good with them.