Raising Turkeys with Kids

[mommasoybean]

I have turkeys and I would suggest that you wait. They are fascinated with our eyes - I always thought it was the lashes but who knows. They are also big strong birds. If he has a bad experience with them at this age he might be afraid of them for the rest of his life.

 

[Pinkbow1]

A turkey could get scared if it sees something running up to it quickly, and will even run after it if somethings running away if it feels threatened. My brother got scratched across his whole chest from not approaching the turkey slowly and safely, instead he was running through the backyard and went running in the turkeys direction and the turkey jumped at him.

 

[Pinkbow1]

A turkey could get scared if it sees something running up to it quickly, and will even run after it if somethings running away if it feels threatened. My brother got scratched across his whole chest from not approaching the turkey slowly and safely, instead he was running through the backyard and went running in the turkeys direction and the turkey jumped at him.

 

[Msbear]

the great thing about the internet is everyone's opinion... the not so great thing about the internet is.. everyone's opinion

Turkeys are big when full grown and may act similarly to a rooster though, the rooster, since he is smaller, is less of a threat than a full grown tom. A tom turkey will want to protect his flock and I've had three different toms over the course of 3 years. All three became somewhat aggressive toward some people. My brother was a target of the first one. It chased his truck down the driveway and eyeballed him the entire time even though he never did anything to provoke him.

We purchased a trio from a good friend here on BYC earlier this Spring. The tom is amazing. He follows us everywhere and is so docile. He loves pets but, we soon realized, he was wanting to love much more than the pets. (He would mount our feet) When an animal has no fear of you, things can get sticky. I don't mean to be abusive or dominant with an animal to gain the fear... it's just something that is natural to most animals. They realize you are dominant and that's that.

He is now coming out of breeding season and is also molting. I don't know if he's moody or what but, I notice from one day to the next, he can be aggressive or standoffish but, isn't as sweet as he used to be. He is also running with a lot of young poults right now that were hatched in an incubator and I just let free range a couple of weeks ago. I think he is playing protector of them so I try to just steer clear of him and I tell my kids that as well (3 and 5) They are little tormentors and I wonder if their rough play created this problem. They never really chased him but, my youngest would grab him and hang on him. I am very firm with them around the animals and they know better than to torment but, kids at that age just cannot be trusted. They are curious and want to play and don't realize what they are doing is causing stress to the animals. I have to keep a close eye on them and I do explain that the tom is protecting his flock and that he will attack them. They seem to listen more to him than to me

I am hoping that, with time things will settle. If I have to, I'll pen them up.

 

[lindsay297]

I dont have turkeys yet, but I agree about children and any animal. Especially large ones. We have twin boys (6) and they know that they cant tease, taunt or chase the animals that we have. They learned this because when they would try it they were stopped!! If you start young with your kids and teach them to treat animals with respect they can have a wonderful relationship. A child may be trying to follow a bird, but that bird does not see it that way. We always told our boys if the animal walks away from you he or she does not want you to follow!! It worked...with the chickens, the cat, the dog. I have seen some full grown toms and at 5'4" I would not want one chasing me!!

What is cute at 18 months is not cute later on and you have to start teaching them that at 18months!! This is not to berate or make anyone feel bad. This is for your childs health and safety. That turkey will get tired of it soon enough and he doesnt realize that your child is only having fun!! That is our job as parents, to prevent the things that we can forsee!!

I wish you luck with the relationship with your flock and your children. Just remember that sometimes you have to intervene so that they can have a relationship!! Start them off on the right foot and they will love each other very much. My boys adore my chickens and my chickens are now the followers of my boys!!

 

[JHillgrove]

I have 3 young turkeys, these are my first turkeys and I did not know what to expect either, but my chickens and kids and turkeys all free range in the back yard. The turkeys are very curious and I have had them nip at my 3 year old. She is just minding her own business and they will come over and nip at her, they are not trying to be mean, they are just so curious. When I sit down the other day they came over to me and I worried they would nip at me, but I went and gave them a scoop of food to keep them occupied. I have had them nip at my finger when I am feeding or watering them and it doesn't hurt, but it's scary. So I would imagine my daughter is not actually hurt. So when my daughter is outside I just watch them closely. They will be eaten for thanksgiving this year so I won't have to worry about it too long.

And for the whole thing about kids chasing chickens don't worry, my kids don't bother my chickens and my chickens love my kids, but sometimes a friend comes over and chased them and I just make sure they get a rest after a little while. I think if the chickens had a problem with it my rooster would step in, but he hasn't. I think letting them all be together is part of the joy and experience.

 

[booker81]

One thing I've found is that the turkeys (especially if they are semi-tame) LOVE to give chase to a running kid. Of course, that freaks the kid out more, who then starts shrieking and running faster, and the turkeys run even harder to keep up.

We just went through this this afternoon with our four year old. I'm not able to run or even walk quickly, so I could only scream to stop running, but for the most part, I either stick close to the turkeys or close to the kid (except when they take off like banshees from me).

The two hens are pretty good, but can and will peck, and the adolescent tom worries me. He's way to cocky for his own good, and has tried to attach stranger and has taken to trying to breed our poor Lab. As I said, I try to keep a close watch on both kid and turkeys (and the tom thought about challenging me, but I squashed that idea. I'm the top bird here). They can be together, but you have to make sure you're the top bird and the adult who keeps the kid in line.

My turkeys do let me hold them so my kid can pet them, but she's only allowed to stand behind them to pet, so they can't peck her. Mine are mutts destined for dinner, so they won't be around for too much longer. I do plan on getting more and possibly breeding/hatching - I hatched these from a friend's eggs.