turkey becoming aggressive

[johnjaha]

My female turkey is a year and 1/2 old. She has always been perfectly sweet to everyone, Whenever I enter fence she immediately would come over and lay down next to me and let me pet her especially stroke around her neck. When my husband would come in to clean coops she would always be right behind him doing the same thing. I assume always wondered if she was "presenting" herself to us which I saw on another thread. She would never peck anyone except once in a while jewelry. This last week or so she changed. We cleaned coops yesterday and she didn't even come lay by us When I enter fence she comes over but not real close, doesnt lay down and I can tell less comfortable with me petting her. Today I went in and she wasnt aggressive but she bit at my fingernails..which are painted but then she grabbed hold of my hand and took a minute to let go. Do they become more aggressive in the fall? The only thing different is we had let one of my chickens hatch some eggs and got 4 roosters they had all been sleeping in her coop with her because they didn't fit in my chicken coop. We had to round up the roosters last week and get rid of them. I don't know if that could have anything to do with her behavior.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Turkeys are fickle emotional birds. I too have a year old hen that has taken a dislike of me an makes fighting noise to me. Why? Don't know, but the other hens go after her for it.

Do you have any other turkeys? Doesn't sound like it. She is probably maturing and feeling sexually frustrated as their instincts tell them to mate. She probably needs a tom or another turkey for company.

 

[johnjaha]

I have five chickens (hens). I bought 2 turkey hicks 3/2015 and 1 was killed last fall. So its just her and the chickens. I only had 3 chickens at the time and still chuckle at the fact that the turkeys were lowest in pecking order even as the grew so big! I am sad if that is the case, the chickens have always just tolerated me lol but the turkeys were so much more affectionate. I hope she goes back to normal. Even the grandkids could pet her or put fingers in fence and she would never bite....now not so sure

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

With turkeys you never know, especially hens. They are a different type of birds. Has she molted yet? They can get a bit crabby during that too.