Bird Depression, or?

[Lindsey May]

Hello! I have three turkeys (my first time raising). One's a palm (my only female), and one of each a dappled gray and a mottled black (both males)...all from the same hatching, and they are about 3 and a half months old now.

In the last week or so, it appears almost as if my girl and my alpha "paired up". They stick together, and sometimes my third is close by, but he's not making much effort to hang with his buddies which is very unusual. I don't notice any outright aggression between him and the other two birds, but that doesn't mean it does not happen when I'm not around. In the last two days or so I've been finding him by his lonesome, often laying out in the yard (sometimes sunning himself, sometimes in the shade). My other two are very social and bouncy (they talk back when I talk to them), but this guy just seems quiet and almost depressed.

I'm trying to figure out if he's just feeling unwell, or if this is common behavior when the lady has chosen a mate... Naturally, if it is the latter... I'd love to get him a buddy. Then the question becomes....is another female or is a male a better option? Would a female fall in with the alpha? Or is another male a better companion bird for him?

Thanks a bunch, any advice helps... it saddens me to see my birds like this.
Lindsey

 

[Lazy Farmer]

I have found with raising turkeys, there is only 1 alpha male. The other boys wait for their turn.

 

[Lindsey May]

I have found with raising turkeys, there is only 1 alpha male. The other boys wait for their turn.

Okay, but is the non-alpha male's behavior normal? This has just come over in the last week. He was always with them prior to that.

 

[Lazy Farmer]

Okay, but is the non-alpha male's behavior normal? This has just come over in the last week. He was always with them prior to that.

I don't know the technical aspects but have witnessed similar behavior. Our males were raised together and grew up together. Only one of the males took the top dog position. The other two just did their own thing. They would stay clear of the ladies. I never witnessed any bouts. Now our roosters are always competing for top position.
You may what a second opinion. I can only tell you what happened with ours.
We raised broad breasted bronze from a straight run.
I don't know if all types of breeds have similar or different social behaviors.

 

[Lindsey May]

No problem! I thank you for your advice!

 

[Lindsey May]

As it turns out....he wasn't showing a lot of signs early, but he was sick and passed tonight. For future reference for other folks that love and care about their birds. <3

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Sorry to hear that. I was going to say that they were and are too young to be thinking about pairing up and mating yet, so it was unusual behavior. Mine are all great pals until the next spring generally when the first breeding season rolls around. Hopefully your other two are okay.