Turkeys and ducks.....

[MonkeyLady]

I have 3 Turkeys. Two Bourbon reds 1 Tom, 1 Hen and 1 Tom that is a Royal Palm. All are under 1 yr of age. I also have 4 female ducks. Everyone has always done really well together, chickens are in the flock also. No issues. They are free range and have a huge yard to roam in. A few days ago I looked out the window and our Red Bourbon Tom was chasing one of our female ducks. By the time I got out the door he had caught her by the neck pecked her, flung her around and caused some damage to the top of her head and the back side of her neck. Why? We have cleaned and treated areas and she is eating and drinking fine and no issues since with him further bothering her, but I am very concerned as our ducks are very docile and easy going and our turkeys normally are until this. Experiencing and thoughts please.....

 

[R2elk]

I have 3 Turkeys. Two Bourbon reds 1 Tom, 1 Hen and 1 Tom that is a Royal Palm. All are under 1 yr of age. I also have 4 female ducks. Everyone has always done really well together, chickens are in the flock also. No issues. They are free range and have a huge yard to roam in. A few days ago I looked out the window and our Red Bourbon Tom was chasing one of our female ducks. By the time I got out the door he had caught her by the neck pecked her, flung her around and caused some damage to the top of her head and the back side of her neck. Why? We have cleaned and treated areas and she is eating and drinking fine and no issues since with him further bothering her, but I am very concerned as our ducks are very docile and easy going and our turkeys normally are until this. Experiencing and thoughts please.....

It is breeding season for turkeys. You need to get rid of one of the toms because two toms and one hen does not work out well. Your hen may become severely injured before the end of breeding season if you keep her with two toms.

When you raise different kinds of fowl together from hatchlings, they lose the ability to understand that the other birds are not the same species as they are. Turkeys are particularly susceptible to imprinting. Everything can seem to be going really well right up until breeding season starts.

Your tom that did the damage was most likely trying to breed your duck and she was not cooperating.