Will be getting my first turkeys tomorrow, have some questions.

[reveriereptile]

Our friend ordered some turkeys (not sure what type) and he doesn't want all of them and is going to give us 5. My boyfriend's dad has had turkeys before but it was large groups (20+). My boyfriend, his mom, and sister all warned me that they were aggressive and never wanted turkeys again. His mom said she would have to swing her purse in circles just to get from the car into the house and my boyfriend said when he was younger that he would have to run from the school bus to the house and sometimes would only make it to the car and have to stay in it till someone seen him. I was wanting to know if only 5 of them would be aggressive especially if there ends up only being one male? I plan on handling them often when we get them to try to tame them but I know it didn't work for my male Chinese goose. He was tame at first but once he got old enough he switched on a dime and started attacking everyone including me. I didn't know if turkeys are as aggressive since I've seen people with them on tv having a tom in the house but assumed it was due to there only being one.

 

[AK-Bird-brain]

I cant speak for other breeds, we have only had broad breasted bronze. They are the calmest most docile birds we have. they may also be the dumbest, but that's another thread.

 

[Wolf-Kim]

Ask your friend what breed turkeys they ordered. Then I think most people here will really be able to help you.

I've been told with turkeys, "they are like chickens. the more you handle them the better they are". We'll see though, mine are still small.

-Kim

 

[silkiechicken]

I would say it may depend on the breed a bit. I have my first bb bronze and you can walk right up to them and hug their 15 lb, 11 week old selves, and play with their snood without a fight. Granted, sometimes they can't tell the difference between my fingers and food between my fingers though.

They will be mighty tasty in about 2 months and I can hardly wait. Love their personalities, but they are meat birds.

 

[Wolf-Kim]

I'll have to try some a broad breasted breed later on in the year(after we eat our current turkeys). We bought three White Holland from a friend, so they are the only experience I have with turkeys right now.

-Kim

 

[reveriereptile]

We got the chicks and they are all white with a tiny bit darker head. I think our friend said they were going to be white but I'm not sure.

 

[Black Feather]

I have Beltsville Small whites and I must say, they are pretty easy going. The tom did attack me once or twice, but that was because I was messing with 'his' girls. I'm in their pen with them all the time and have no problems.

Urban Coyote

 

[onthespot]

are Beltsville Small Whites the same as Midget Turkeys? I have some midget turkey eggs in the incubator, only a few days along so far. Any words of wisdom if I get a hatch? I am new to chickens, and brand new to turkeys... (what was I thinking?)

 

[reveriereptile]

Our friend counted the turkeys went he got home after dropping 5 off here and found out they gave him 4 extras so he came back by and gave us another one. They are so cute. I'll have to get some pictures of them.

 

[MarJen]

We have 1 royal palm, 2 Narrgansettes, 2 Bourbon reds and a cross bourbon and slate shes kinda peachy/blue. When we went to the breeders to get them all there birds were personalble the hens wanted to be held and the toms wanted to just lean up to you and touch you like that. I even had my children there ( 5 and 2) and they loved them. She told us that you should handle them and they will be like dogs. even the toms. The only time she had a problem was with the younger toms they would fight with each other during breeding time so she kept them penned up unless she wanted to use one of them. Just handle them as much as possible, they were friendlier then her chickens!
Have fun. i know we are having a blast with ours.