Turkey hens fighting?

[ohiofarmgirl]

I have 3 Bourbon Red hens + TurkZilla the tom, all hatched last spring. Now that spring is in the air its a regular episode of National Geographic out there with all the mating. Normally they all get along. However today two of the hens were fighting. Bad. By the time I got in the fence Hen A had Hen B's head in her mouth! Almost up to her eyes! Normally I let my chickens fight it out but this was the weirdest thing - and I didnt want her to be blinded.

I jumped into the mix with my trusty shepherd's hook and enormous dog - and it took the dog to get Hen A to drop Miss B - who I scooped up and separated from the rest. Now she is out there screaming.

They have all gotten along splendidly until now. They free range in a large fenced area and roost together in a coop but this one has me wondering what to do.

Any thoughts on this one?

 

[Harp Turkey Ranch]

The hens do the same thing the toms due, they are getting the pecking order figured out. After they figure out the order then everything will calm back down, if you are to let the hens sit though you will need to separate them as they will have some big fights and possibly hurting/killing the poults in the mean time.

 

[ohiofarmgirl]

thanks! i was wondering about what to do about nesting.. i had planned to make them all nest boxes but it sounds like they need to be enclosed, is that right?

i tried to put the girls back together again and Angry Hen A immediately grabbed little Hen B by the head again. they are separated again and i'll try letting them all roost when it gets dark.

thanks thanks thanks - btw i am formerly from seattle - where are you in WA?

 

[Harp Turkey Ranch]

WE ARE LOCATED ABOUT 60-70 MILES SOUTH OF SEATTLE OUT ON HWY 8 HEADING TOWARDS OCEAN SHORES/ABERDEEN

YOU WILL JUST NEED TO LET THE HENS RUN THEIR COURSE WITH THE AGGRESSION, MAKE SURE TO HAVE THEM OUTSIDE OF AN ENCLOSED ARE WHERE THEY CAN GET AWAY WHEN THEY HAVE BEEN BEAT, SO NOTHING BAD HAPPENS TO THE LOSER.

NEST BOXES WE LIKE TO HAVE THEM 24'HX18'DX27'W PER 4-5 HENS. WE PUT OURS ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE PENS SO WE DON'T HAVE TO GO IN EVERYDAY AND GET THE EGGS, SO WE HAVE A ROOF AND FLOOR ON THE BOXES. THEN WE PUT IN ABOUT 6" OF STRAW AND LET THE HENS MAKE THEIR NESTS AND START TO GATHER THE EGGS.

 

[ohiofarmgirl]

great! thanks so much for the nest box info. i'm reading the posts on this section to find out more.

i have to say - after the deep freeze/snow this year in central ohio all that rain in seattle is starting to look pretty good.. hee hee

thanks again. i checked the ladies this morning and they seemed to have worked it out. i kept the beat up hen separated until it was dark and then they seemed fine this morning. i hustled them up and out just as it got light and she has lots of room to run away. thanks again!!

 

[LoveMyBirds]

Quote:
Yeah, I have 6 BR Hens and have seen this many times also.. I smack them around and seperate them at that spot, (Not Diff. Pens) but after they fight a while they will quit and get along fine..

I let mine free range though and stand around where they are usually like pets all over me...

I've even seen a hen try to grab the Gob like that, but he's taller and usually can get his head higher to avoid the grasp of her beak