Sibling toms. Storey’s Guide to Raising Turkeys

[Otis-Gussy]

I have 2 sibling toms and only 3 hens. All around the same age ( hatched May - June )

I was thinking I’d likely have to re home one of the two toms, but I just read in Storey’s Guide to Raising Turkeys that two genetic sibling toms can live together and the less dominant tom will willingly play second fiddle to the dominant tom and not try to mate with the hens. Is this true????

 

[R2elk]

I have 2 sibling toms and only 3 hens. All around the same age ( hatched May - June )

I was thinking I’d likely have to re home one of the two toms, but I just read in Storey’s Guide to Raising Turkeys that two genetic sibling toms can live together and the less dominant tom will willingly play second fiddle to the dominant tom and not try to mate with the hens. Is this true????

That is possible but don't bet on it. The part about the less dominant tom willingly not trying to mate the hens is not true. If the toms are equally matched they may never cease the dominance struggles.

Even when one of the toms is dominant, I have seen a lesser tom choose the opportunity to attack the dominant tom when it is on the back of a hen. This frequently ends with hens being injured. It also lead to poor fertility since the breeding act gets interrupted.

I would not allow 2 toms in the same pen with only three hens during breeding season. I try to keep at least 4 to 5 hens for one tom. For two toms I would want at least 10 hens and even then that may not be enough.

 

[Otis-Gussy]

That is possible but don't bet on it. The part about the less dominant tom willingly not trying to mate the hens is not true. If the toms are equally matched they may never cease the dominance struggles.

Even when one of the toms is dominant, I have seen a lesser tom choose the opportunity to attack the dominant tom when it is on the back of a hen. This frequently ends with hens being injured. It also lead to poor fertility since the breeding act gets interrupted.

I would not allow 2 toms in the same pen with only three hens during breeding season. I try to keep at least 4 to 5 hens for one tom. For two toms I would want at least 10 hens and even then that may not be enough.

Thank you for the info. I figured it was kind of a too good to be true scenario