Young Turkey Behavior?

[Angwit]

We just acquired 2 Royal Palm turkeys that are roughly 6 or 7 weeks old. They were found left at our local grocery store in a cardboard box. We added them to our existing group of 8 week old chickens. They are all living together fine and seem to almost enjoy each other's company at times.

At other times...these turkeys are crazy, wild critters who seem bound to commit suicide! They run around crazy inside our temporary grow out pen and create mass destruction. We can't hold them or they flip out and won't stop screaming and going into a panic. Is this normal?? We've never had turkeys before and through all my research I was under the impression that turkeys in general were remotely calm and good with people. Any advice on how to handle them?

Also, we have one large coop for all our birds. When or will they be able to integrate into the larger coop with general population? We free range all day on 5 acres and all our existing chickens return at night for lockdown. How do I teach them not to run away? One got loose and ran straight into the woods and hid under a pile of logs... fleeing seems to be their preferred method. Will they outgrow this behavior and if so when? How? I'm not sure yet if I am happy with these new additions and could use some sound advice on how to turn them into good yard birds. Thanks for any advice on my psycho birds...

 

[rjohns39]

Turkey's for the first 8 weeks have a single mission: Find an inventive way to commit suicide. They are far too curious. Problem is you don't know what they went through before coming to your place. Treats and time are important to winning them over. Sit with them, offer treats and they'll eventually come to you. At 8 weeks they can go to the coop, put them in at night and lock them in for 3 days to a week that will teach them that the coop is their home. RPs can be very affectionate birds.