Turkey body language?

[BarneyChick97]

I know the obvious.... the strutting and stuff like that. Two days ago, one of our birds was attacked, killed, and consumed in our backyard. We are pretty sure it was a bird of prey (most likely a red tail hawk). It killed a beautiful crested swedish blue duck. We have 6 chickens, 3 other ducks, and one turkey. She is over a year old. She walks around with her tail fanned out, but tilted to the ground. Her head might be bluish too. In the 3 years we've had turkeys, I've never seen that. However, we've never had any of our birds killed! So is she showing fear?? She doesn't seem aggressive. Or is that some kind of protection??

Anyone???

 

[farm_mom]

I have a number of turkey hens, some narris, some black spanish and one red bourbon. The red bourbon, for whatever reason likes to display from time to time and do what you describe with her tail (fanning it out and hold it down). She likes to display like that most around the other birds on the farm. So it could be a defense, it could be shock from the situation of having a bird of prey attack on the property, it could be illness as well. Although birds who are ill usually droop their wings as well. I would just keep an eye on her to be sure there are no other signs of illness, but chances are she's just got some personality. Good Luck!

 

[BarneyChick97]

I don't think she's sick. She seems to only hang out near the trees, and or the other birds that fit inside a covered moveable cage. ( we had to build just because of this situation!!

) Her fan is firm, and well shaped, just at a low angle...... that I have never seen before. And you would think that I could just google that, and find out somewhere? No!!

 

[Scottingitup]

In my girls that is the pre-sign for back up or get attacked/chased.

 

[farm_mom]

I don't think she's sick. She seems to only hang out near the trees, and or the other birds that fit inside a covered moveable cage. ( we had to build just because of this situation!!

) Her fan is firm, and well shaped, just at a low angle...... that I have never seen before. And you would think that I could just google that, and find out somewhere? No!!

So sorry to hear about the attack btw, there is nothing more devastating! I haven't had a bird of prey kill, but I have had feral dogs come into the yard and kill 8 hens before we were able to scare them away. I know how awful it is.