Turkey Talk for 2014

[Arielle]

We are planning on restarting out flock of chickens and adding a pair of turkeys. Currently we have mixed chicken and roo but are getting some buff orphingtons. My question is should there be less fighting between my roo and tom because buffs are more docile?

I have turkey hens bother my speckled sussex rooster. . the turkeys can be naughty. I free range so animals have the ability to get away or choose to stand their ground. I so find my buffs to be docile and have never seen a confrontation with anyone -- they do tend to be mellow. I have a couple juvies that grew up i n the pen with an ameraucana rooster and he is tough on them.

 

[chicken pickin]

We are planning on restarting out flock of chickens and adding a pair of turkeys. Currently we have mixed chicken and roo but are getting some buff orphingtons. My question is should there be less fighting between my roo and tom because buffs are more docile?

On the last thread you didn't mention you were also adding more chickens to the 4x8 coop. I think with the existing chickens and adding more chickens and 2 turkeys that might be more than a tight squeeze. Unless Im not understanding correctly. Fighting Im sure would be minimal and it does depend on personality also. It would just require supervision in the beginning to see how they behave together and then go from there.

Also I saw you asked on the other thread about the possibility and outcome of a Tom trying to mate a chicken hen. It doesn't always happen most people don't encounter that problem including me but I have heard many stories where it does happen and Toms are very large and mate for much longer than the 10 seconds a rooster mates and sometimes chickens could be injured or even killed. But like I said I have never experienced that so maybe someone else can give better info on that.

 

[susan83]

On the last thread you didn't mention you were also adding more chickens to the 4x8 coop. I think with the existing chickens and adding more chickens and 2 turkeys that might be more than a tight squeeze. Unless Im not understanding correctly. Fighting Im sure would be minimal and it does depend on personality also. It would just require supervision in the beginning to see how they behave together and then go from there.

Also I saw you asked on the other thread about the possibility and outcome of a Tom trying to mate a chicken hen. It doesn't always happen most people don't encounter that problem including me but I have heard many stories where it does happen and Toms are very large and mate for much longer than the 10 seconds a rooster mates and sometimes chickens could be injured or even killed. But like I said I have never experienced that so maybe someone else can give better info on that.

We are not planning on just adding. We will be culling our current flock one a month until the new flock is laying so thatwe Keep a steady flow of eggs. Will be adding the turkeys when the old flock is gone.

 

[chicken pickin]

We are not planning on just adding. We will be culling our current flock one a month until the new flock is laying so thatwe Keep a steady flow of eggs. Will be adding the turkeys when the old flock is gone.

AHHH got it, now that makes sense lol.

 

[Timba]

Hi everyone. I have a question, hopefully some of you could help me out with this. I'm planning on raising four turkey poults to maturity and was wondering how big a run I should make for them. I was planning on an 8x8 fenced in enclosure. Would that be enough?

 

[Arielle]

Hi everyone. I have a question, hopefully some of you could help me out with this. I'm planning on raising four turkey poults to maturity and was wondering how big a run I should make for them. I was planning on an 8x8 fenced in enclosure. Would that be enough?

If they are thre broast breasted types thhat size run will be fine; the heritage will manage.

 

[Timba]

They will be Bourbon Reds

If they are thre broast breasted types thhat size run will be fine; the  heritage will manage.

 

[Arielle]

My BR tolerated a small run just fine.They are a medium size heritage type, not as large as some breeds. My adult male birds jump over the 4 foot fencing so I stopped trying to fence them in.

 

[Arielle]

I have been selecting hens for dinner one by one. BOy are they delicious. I do wonder what they are eating while out and about free ranging-- I never catch them eating other than at the feed trough. Tasted quite good!! Ate the tail first.

I was surprized how much fat she had under the skin and inside the cavity.

 

[K Epp]

Just want to say I think you are BOTH wonderful for trying to help me, and I have appreciation for what both were saying.  I took the reply as Penny Hen telling me that IF I WERE IN SERIOUS TROUBLE AND BEING HURT, that is how to stop it. Lest I lay there with my face in a pile of turkey poo having my butt kicked. (cause I would LOL)    And I appreciate that Sydney Acres spoke up at the misunderstanding because .....after all........I am the person who cannot attend animal auctions simply because it tears me up to see animals handled so roughly. I wouldn't be able to do it anyhow, but thumbs up for speaking up when you thought something wasn't right.   All I can say is it does my heart good to see good people. 

I certainly am the nervous novice and that is nicer than what some other farmers call me....LOL!!!   I am spending some time out there carefully watching the behavior.  The very large one is hissing/spitting at me and drumming, which I understand is mating behavior. The smaller of the two is not.  When I enter the pen, they back up a little and have not yet charged me.  HOWEVER, when they are in the outdoor run, the big one is trying to start junk with the other animals.  If there was not a good fencing in between the big Tom and my pig and goats, I am sad to say he would be making minced meat of them. Especially poor Hamlett (pig) it seems.  He was charging the female and "yet to be determined" as well when they were in the pen.  This has me considering butchering him before things do get any more progressed and I do end up with an issue of other animals/ my kids being hurt by him.  And honestly, since I don't seem to have it in me to get tough, even when called for, it may be in my best interest to nip the problem in the butt before it goes too far.  Have had issues with seriously nasty roosters before, and then always feel bad when it comes to HAVING TO put them down AFTER someone has been hurt, even me. Makes me sad, but "MY GUT" is telling me things are about to go very wrong for me and the big dude, and it's going to be worse and VERY UGLY to the point where I lose control of the situation. 

As for the smaller of the two, he isn't doing anything to the other animals or me, but is certainly ready to start scrappin with the big turkey I think.  He is making a trill noise/ screech when they are gobbling together, and in the pen he was following the big one around, right up his butt, in circle, like "YOU WANNA PIECE OF ME???".  Was thinking I would watch him a little longer before deciding if he would be a threat to anyone else here. He seems more docile and not a problem for anyone but the big guy.  I don't feel in my gut he is a mean one, just sick of the big one's crap!

Any thoughts on this? Opinions welcomed.  And Thanks a bunch again! YOU GUYS ROCK!!!

I raised my 2 Standard Bronze From poults. Both turned out to be hens. I got two toms to go with them Narri so going on 3 yes old Bourbon Red is 2. The guy got them from got hem at the sale. My hens are big poets. The BR is the dominant male and he is calm and acts fine. The Narri started out jumping at small dig and costs. Then he decided to chase after my feet like a goose. I keep a eye on him and every time he dies it I throw my arms up in the air, holler, and run after him. One day he agrevated me all the time chasing my feet. I chased him and then kicked in the butt just hard enough to lift him slightly off the ground. Now he behaves.