Turkey petting postion

[KarateHorse]

We have three broad breasted bronze turkeys. One started drooping her wings and lowering her tail when you walk by or start to pet her. When you go to touch her she "assumes the position" drooping her wings and lowering her tail then she let's you pet her. It's so funny! Tonight one of our other turkeys "assumed the position" then the other turkey assumed the postion. So they were all three standing around with their wings drooped and tails lowered waiting to be petted. Does anyone else have turkeys that do this? It's so funny!

 

[sourland]

I'm assuming that all are hens ? Your girls are growing up and ready for mating.

 

[KarateHorse]

I'm assuming that all are hens ?  Your girls are growing up and ready for mating.

Yes they are all hens. We don't have a tom for them yet.

 

[sourland]

They are doing the turkey equivalent of the 'squat' in maturing pullets just before they begin to lay. I don't know if this indicates the onset of laying in turkeys.

 

[KarateHorse]

They are doing the turkey equivalent of the 'squat' in maturing pullets just before they begin to lay.  I don't know if this indicates the onset of laying in turkeys.

The first turkey that started doing it is named Rambo and shes very attached to my mom. She will run over and assume the position right at my mom's feet. If my mom walks away Rambo will run after her and do it again. If mom leaves Rambo will stand at the fence and constantly cry until she hears or sees mom

 

[Weehopper]

She's ready to breed

 

[shortgrass]

Lol that's too cute that she's "in love" with your mom

I have a hen that's in "love" with me, too...she's annoying ha-ha

They see you as their "Tom" since they don't have one. They're mature enough to want to mate, but have imprinted on humans and don't quite understand what they're doing. My hen does the same for me, but I also have a Tom that gets super jealous of it; she'll come sit by me and beg for "petting" while he stands 5 feet away gobbling and showing off

If you decide to eat the eggs, I'll give you a tip. Use them in baking, like duck eggs. The texture is different than chicken eggs and the white is a lot thicker. So is the shell, I just use a knife to break the shells

 

[KarateHorse]

Lol that's too cute that she's "in love" with your mom

I have a hen that's in "love" with me, too...she's annoying ha-ha

They see you as their "Tom" since they don't have one. They're mature enough to want to mate, but have imprinted on humans and don't quite understand what they're doing. My hen does the same for me, but I also have a Tom that gets super jealous of it; she'll come sit by me and beg for "petting" while he stands 5 feet away gobbling and showing off

If you decide to eat the eggs, I'll give you a tip. Use them in baking, like duck eggs. The texture is different than chicken eggs and the white is a lot thicker. So is the shell, I just use a knife to break the shells

Thanks we might get them a tom.