Unusuall behaviour

[vickichicki]

I have a pair of Royals. They were rescues found together at a local park. I am not 100% certain on Turkey behaviour so I have a couple of questions hopefully someone can help me out with.

The Tom is food agressive so I fixed that with putting two feeding stations across from each other in thier pen. Now she can eat while he circles from one feeder to another. I assume this is normal behaviour?

Now here are my more important questions.

I have noticed the food is not been eaten as fast as it has been. The Tom has been all puffed up and chasing her around the pen here lately. I assume he is ready for action... She on the other hand does not seem receptive... Yet (He is good looking )
Since this new puffing up, he has also being puffing up at me going into their pen. Is he mad at me as I might interfer with their courting? He is not agressive towards me as far as chasing me out... Just puffing up and gobbling. They normally put themselves as far away from me as possible when I go in there.

Could he be so busy trying to get her attention food is not on their priorty list? I can see fresh droppings in there, just not as much as normal.

Any suggestions would be great.

 

[flocksalot]

Well your boy is definitely flirting. Toms will do the dance whenever there is something or someone to show off for. Mine love to drag wing, suck air, tst, and gobble over everything. I always know when every single car is going past on the very busy highway.

Partly he is courting and partly he is showing you how big he is so you don't try to steal his girl. if he's not attempting to chase you off that is great. I've never had a turkey try to flog me, but raising them from egg or poult helps with that. Since you got them grown they will react differently. Seems he likes you. When she is ready she will squat.

As for the not consuming as much feed, I would just keep an eye on the situation. If you had recently wormed them then I would say that was your culprit. Mine go through times where they don't eat as much feed, but its usually due to raiding the gardens. The red lipstick looking beaks is usually a good clue for me. When toms are busy strutting and flirting they don't spend as much time at the feeder. Take note of whether he is allowing her to eat rather than chasing her away. He may just be love sick and unable to think of anything else.

 

[vickichicki]

Thanks for the informative reply.

They currently do not access to outside the pen. I also tarped up the majority of the pen which makes is a little difficult to observe if she is eating. As soon as this brutal cold is over they can be un-covered. They generally will not eat until I am far away from the pen. This makes checking her eating a little tougher, but I am willing to sit on my deck with a snuggy to make sure.

She does not seem terrified by him, she just struts away. Hopefully we shall be seeing some egg action come early spring!

 

[flocksalot]

If she's just strutting away then I would say he's the one not doing the eatin. Which as I said earlier they tend to do a bit of when they are ah well you know girl crazy.

Just keep an eye the best you can. Taking on older turkeys (not poults) can be fun and rewarding. It's just a little harder to keep an eye on them when they would prefer you don't. You could always try luring them with treats. Mine love absolutely any fruit. Chopped up apples this time of year is much appreciated.

I know they are a bit skittish right now, but the more time you spend around them the more they will accept you.

I think Royal Palms are so very very pretty. You are lucky to have them. As for eggs and subsequent babies, I hope you get the cutest little bunch come spring.