Should nesting turkey hens be separated from tom

[nchls school]

I have midget whites and standard bronze. Fertility is almost 100% with the hens hatching 10 to 16 poults each time. I do separate the hens from the Toms when they are brooding. Below is a picture of my bronze pair.

The Tom is the better parent; brooding the chicks day and night, and quite protective, I free range the birds. Both parents lead the poults around, but it's the Tom that does the brooding while the hen stands nearby. Is this usual or is this pair unique?

 

[R2elk]

I have midget whites and standard bronze. Fertility is almost 100% with the hens hatching 10 to 16 poults each time. I do separate the hens from the Toms when they are brooding. Below is a picture of my bronze pair.

View attachment 1397648
The Tom is the better parent; brooding the chicks day and night, and quite protective, I free range the birds. Both parents lead the poults around, but it's the Tom that does the brooding while the hen stands nearby. Is this usual or is this pair unique?

It is slightly unique as the normal behavior is for the hen to brood the poults. Just be careful. It would not be the first time that a "wonderful" father suddenly had a behavior change and started killing poults. I am not saying that will happen with yours but it has happened to other people who were shocked when it did happen.

 

[nchls school]

Thank you for the reply. I certainly will watch for behavior changes in the Tom. If the hen were a better parent I'd remove the Tom. Before the Tom started to care for the poults three or four poults were lost. None have been lost since the Tom became the primary parent.

 

[hellfire]

Amazing Tom behaviour! Takes all sorts. I had a very sweet natured Tom years ago who was similar but not to that extent just guarded the pen mum and poults were in and sat next to the mesh even though he had another female. That was a pier. My bourbon red Tom would proberbly kill them as he's totally different in his behaviour and how he treats the hens. Not sure I'll breed from him next year.

 

[nchls school]

Tonight, when I went out to lock up the birds for the night, the Tom was in a corner of the shed brooding his ten poults. The hen had gone up on the perch with the other turkeys. I guess she's not mother material.

 

[nchls school]

UPDATE

The Tom was successful in raising his poults. Now, a month later, the hen has her second
clutch hatching (3 so far) and I'm wondering if the Tom will be Mr. Mom again. Any thoughts or comments? He ignores the other hen's poults.