What Is This Poult Doing?

[Stacykins]

I am sharing this video because I am not sure what this six week old poult is up to! I guess as a first time turkey owner they keep me guessing. Anyway, I'll describe it so you don't have to listen to my banter during the video

essentially, when I hold a chicken, one of my poults puffs up, stretches out its neck, gets flushed around the head and neck (hard to see in the vid because of the chick fuzz), makes a chittering noise, and eventually tries to peck at said chicken. Usually once I put the chicken down the turkey returns to normal, but in this video the poult gave a quick chase then gave up.



Also, a sub question in the thread, how do you tell the difference between a self-blue turkey and a blue slate? They're different, right? The parents were blue slates, so I got some grey poults and some black ones, which I learned happens when you breed blue slates. But self blue can also result. Here are some pictures of my two grey poults. The pictures are taken with no flash, only natural light on an overcast afternoon.

 

[Oghdoff]

It seems to me that that lil poult has inprinted on you. Which if you spend alot of time with them when they are young is normal. What appears to be happening is the poult is jealous of you holding the chicken. Much like one dog would do if you held another in your lap. As far as genetics and so forth, I think Lagerdogger is one of the best informed on here. /em sets up the turkey spot shinning in the sky for Lagerdogger.

 

[KatyTheChickenLady]

when I first take mine out in the yard I sit on a low stool, and they all run for safety under me when they get scared

 

[syble]

blue slates breed 3 forms, blues, selfblues(light clear blue), and black, you have the blue and black forms. I have 2 selfblues (sometimes incorrectly called lavenders) at a young age they look silvery white without the dark flecking that the blues have

 

[Stacykins]

Poult jealousy? I never thought turkeys would be struck by the green-ey'd monster

but I never thought about it, either. The poult doesn't do it if I hold another turkey.

Quote:
Thanks for making the difference clear! I was looking at pictures of self blues and blue slates, and they looked so similar. The black flecking didn't really stand out until you mentioned it. That is great to know!