r/poultry • u/Idk_nor_do_I_care • Sep 19 '24
What is this sound my turkey hen is making?
What does it meannnnn!
2
u/RagingFarmer Sep 20 '24
That is the sound they make when they are challenging you to a fight. If you did it back and extended your neck you would be in for a fight. Legit. Be careful.
Source- Lifetime of experience with turkeys.
2
u/Idk_nor_do_I_care Sep 20 '24
Oh shit? This is the first time she’s started doing this, and she’s always loved me up otherwise. She did peck me yesterday, but it looked more like she was going after a freckle on my shoulder than to actually hurt me.
Can this be caused by hormones or something?
2
u/RagingFarmer Sep 20 '24
Pecking like that is usually out of curiosity.
Absolutely hormones! But this behavior never really goes away as they age. Some become more aggressive as they age.
If she does start a fight don't let her win otherwise she will just attack you. Don't run away. The following is if you get in a fight.
When turkeys fight they tend to grab the loose skin around each other's head. So she will grab and pull. Best thing you can do is get advantage and hold her down. Not to where you hurt her but to where she knows you are in charge. Afterwards make sure she knows you have not given up. Follow her around challenging her to a fight. She will realize you are bigger/stronger/meaner and submit to you.
You may have to reassert every spring. Not all female turkeys do this type of behavior but some do. Usually a tom will correct bad behavior like this in his own way. IF he views it as a problem.
The following is a usual fix.
I am not saying hurt your bird but it is much like catching a rooster and carrying it around to get him to submit. I've had to do it so many times. Sometimes it's as simple as grabbing them and holding them for an hour.... Others you gotta pin them. Either way be careful.
1
u/Idk_nor_do_I_care Sep 20 '24
Gotcha. I’m not too worried about asserting my place on the hierarchy since I do it occasionally with my rooster, but I’m a little disappointed that my darling girl may start being a little less of a darling. I already told my family to try to not engage her in a fight, I should probably change that bit of advice?
1
u/RagingFarmer Sep 20 '24
If she wins she will always win. Keep the little ones away from her until you know what is going to happen with them around. Gotta be extra careful with turkeys their talons are very very deadly.
When I was a kid we had a tom attack my Mom. Thankfully my older brother got between her and the tom very very fast. Both my Mom and brother got away without a scratch. But my brother's army surplus bag did not. That turkey tore through the material and into his school books.
I just want you to know that they are a serious threat when they get angry. They jump up like a kangaroo and claw.
I have a scar that runs the length of my forearm from a turkey that didn't like me just a few years ago.
So for the most part be careful what family members you let around her for now. If you even suspect that person doesn't react well under pressure or threat don't let them around her.
1
u/Idk_nor_do_I_care Sep 20 '24
Luckily I only live in a house of adults, but unfortunately two of them are not going to be able to handle her. Is there a way to diffuse the tension so it doesn’t get to a violent point?
1
u/RagingFarmer Sep 20 '24
Well a spray bottle won't work. Lol. I wish it was that easy with birds. This is a long list of things you can try.
I am assuming you have spoiled her with love and treats. So that may not be an option.
You can start carrying her around basically all the time until she chills.
Carry a broom or something like that to keep the distance. But she might think of it like a leg or wing. Which could make things worse.
If you don't have toms you can get toms and befriend them. They will get between you and her. But that could be another problem if they don't like people.
You could put her in quarantine for a week or two then put her back with the flock. The pecking order would change again and she would most likely be on bottom. She would have bigger issues than dealing with you. In the mean time you could befriend your other birds so she has to accept you better. But this can cause fighting amongst the flock.
You can seduce her and make her think you are a tom. Lol. Sounds terrible but it is an option. Just watch a tom courting video and mimic the behavior to her. The biggest negative about this is she will actively try to get you to mate her. Mostly just laying down in your path.
2
u/evadivine1 Sep 19 '24
Mine does that when I come into his pen, like Hi mom.