Toms and Poults- ?

[Birch Run Farm]

Do domestic breed males assist in family duties?

 

[Struttn1]

Usually no but I have read a couple of posts mentioning toms sitting eggs. Don't even leave a gobbler in the pen with a broody hen. I lost half of one of my hens new hatched poults because I did not remove the tom. He got in the nest and crushed them by stepping on them. I caught him in the act.

Yesterday I let my Royal Palm with her month old poults out to roam with the gobblers and it was no problem. The poults are big enough to get out of the way of those big feet.

I was surprised though when I heard the hen cackle and I looked over in time to see my Bourbon Red breed her. She laid an egg this morning which I took and put in my Black Spanish nest. Looks like more mutts for me.

 

[Birch Run Farm]

I didn't think this was the case but there are always exceptions to the rule. Clark is very protective of Claudia now that she has hatched a tiny chick (araucana chick). He stays with them, protects them and sleeps with them. He doesn't even like me getting too close.

He flogged my muscovey drake after I captured him. The drake had attacked Claudia while I was at work, her feathers were everywhere. I captured the drake and both turkeys pummelled him, clearly there was some pent up anger there. Don't worry, the drake only suffered injury to his pride. I have the drake crated now and the turkeys are managing well in with the rest of the GP. The chickens ignore them.

BTW- I love the colors you get with mutts!

 

[walkswithdog]

My Jake, Bourbon Red, was a GREAT father. Loved his kids, slept with them, guarded them, let them ride on his back, even tried to mother them when the fox got the hen. While new fathers - just like first time broodies, make mistakes. It IS a learning process and if they're so inclined, they're invaluable.

I'm sure he'll look after his next brood even better and the whole flock is better for the experience because THEY all got used to having babies under foot. So the subsequent batch of chicks to two first time chicken moms actually went very smoothly. While there are losses with both broodies and fathers, especially the first time. Who among us does everything right the first time? I let him learn. They lost three, kept three. But the entire flock is better for it.

I'd rather lose a few and ensure a better flock dynamic, but that's me and my free ranging situation talking.

 

[Birch Run Farm]

I had some time to observe Clark and Claudia with their chick today. He is clearly active with caring for the young one. While it is funny to see a huge turkey hen mothering a chicken chick, it is even more impressive to see an even bigger tom showing the baby some food and keeping watch on his mate. I'll get some photos.

 

[CrazyChickMom]

Any thoughts on keeping turkeys and chickens in the same pen? I've heard different theories on this..some say it's okay..others say..don't do it.

 

[walkswithdog]

Depends ENTIRELY on whether your region is positive for Blackhead or not. No Blackhead, no problem. If the region has Blackhead in the area, then it's not safe. Ask your extension agent.

Chickens cannot get Blackhead but they easily pass it to turkeys when run together in regions that have it.

My area does NOT, thank God.

 

[CrazyChickMom]

Good information! Thank you!