Turkey attacked my husband.

[Mycookoonest]

Our Tom attacked my husband, along with our big roo. I'm not sure what to do but he's saying we have to get rid of him...

Why would they be ganging up on him? It's been all of a sudden. I guess last night Batman (the roo) was following him close behind when he was leaving the coop with Captain (the turkey) behind him. Today when he was leaving both of them went to spur him.

 

[ticks]

It has been repeated over and over again. But sounds liek its time for a Turkey and chicken supper.

 

[vortec]

Time to pull out the trusted camp axe, or remington 870, which ever you choose, lol

vortec

 

[zatsdeb]

I would lock that rooster up and see if its him starting things! Maybe the turkey is part of his "gang" I have a little rooster that likes to stir things up all last year, we hosed him down with the hose a few times, and he stopped

 

[vortec]

Quote:
lol. Never used the hose on our poultry. Just the cats and dogs that get too close.

vortec

 

[Mycookoonest]

Our Banty Robin is the trouble maker... and it looks like he's rubbing off on Batman...

I think both are going to have to go. But from watching Tim going out there I saw Batman size him up, spur, and the turkey getting between Tim and Batman almost as if to get between the fighting. Batman used to be like with Tim and Robin...

 

[zatsdeb]

Quote:
well.... maybe it is the rooster! Do you have a small cage you can put him in a few days to see if its him? or a small roasting pan.....???

 

[Birch Run Farm]

It is breeding season and your birds all think you are competition.

 

[chickenannie]

Men always seem to have more problems with my turkey tom and I think it's because human men are more loud and aggressive in their general behavior towards the tom. In my experience, men like to "fake spar" with the turkey or continually make gobbling noises at it, etc and it just gets the turkey noticing the men more and picking up more of a threat from them. Men, feel free to disagree with me if you think I'm way off here.

With women, the turkey would sidle up too close. So to stop this behavior, I had to establish who was alpha. Once I realized what I needed to do, I was 100 percent consistent, in that EVERY SINGLE TIME I saw the tom, I would force him to move or pick him up and put him down a few feet away. Because in birdlanguage the alpha bird NEVER lets the lower bird get away with any forwardness. As alpha person, you always put him in his place. For example, if I walked by him, I would take a step in his direction to make him step backward. Or pick him up then put him somewhere. This worked great. He just knew I was in charge. It was never anything aggressive, just firm handling. Hopefully that doesn't contradict what I said before in the first paragraph, but it wasn't a "sparring" type training, it was firm and consistent.

The neighbor (male) who shooed him aggressively with a broom every time he saw my tom, was the one who got run over, chased after, gobbled at etc whenever he came within any distance. Hmmm I wonder why.

Just call me the turkey whisperer!!!

 

[MandyH]

We had to rehome a tom once because of that very reason. Once they start attacking you , it will only get worse.