what is considered normal breeding behavior for turkeys?

[grinningranny]

OK...total newbie here. I'm wondering what normal behavior is during breeding season. We have 1 Narragansett tom (named Jerry), and 4 Narri hens. They just started laying about 3-4 weeks ago but do not seem interested in breeding at all. Jerry continually struts, and has managed to mount a few times, but there is no connection, if you know what I mean. He is also what I would consider really mean to the girls. He chases, pecks, and viciously pulls out feathers. Is this normal? Our rooster is so kind to his chickens I was expecting something a little nicer from Jerry. Any insight would be appreciated or Jerry might be Thanksgiving.

 

[ivan3]

Did you raise these turks, how old are they, how big is their run (if any), do the hens have someplace to retreat to where the tom can't get them? You could try separating out the tom and just introduce one hen at a time and observe for breeding (if successful hen will stand up, shake herself off and chortle - not 100% predictive of success - but pretty close - particularly if hen is `experienced').

 

[grinningranny]

Yes I raised the hens and got the tom when he was about 5 mos old. They are now 9 months old, and not experienced. They have a 1/2 acre (with rocks trees, a barn and the chicken hotel) that they share with chickens and 3 goats. I pen them at night, and that's when the aggressive behavior starts, usually. The tom would prefer to stay outside, but for security from predators they have a pen in the barn where they are fed and overnighted, Maybe I should let him stay out(?) The barnyard is surrounded by an 8 foot fence.

 

[ivan3]

Do they have roosting locations in the barn? If the pen is confining, a couple of lengths of 2"x2"s 2"x4"s over the top of pen would add vertical space.

 

[grinningranny]

The pen is 7'x8' and about 7 1/2' high with their large (4'x 5 1/2'x4' high) feeding table that gives half of the area a 2 story affect, and one 2"x4"x 8' roost. One of the hens he picks on the most is creating a clutch of eggs under the table in the bed of straw I put under there.