turkey behaviour

[catdance62]

We have a turkey hen that is about 10 years old. Quite recently she started displaying some unusual behaviour--she follows us (me and husband) around the barnyard and if we sit down or stop for a minute, she lays down right next to us and will let us pet her and she NEVER used to let us touch her at all. She was never really afraid of us or anything, like, she would get close enough where we could grab her if we needed to move her from one area or another, but never like this. If we move to a part of the barnyard she can't get to she becomes quite agitated, calling for us bu chirping etc. We do have lots of chickens that free-range with her including a couple roosters. We do not have any other turkeys. we got her from a neighbour last year and at that time she was laying eggs, but she stopped laying last fall. I figured she was too old. We though maybe she was not getting enough nutrition from the laying pellets and scratch, so we also put out some old chick grower we had just for a variety. She seems to be eating fine and her feathers look good. Is there any reason for this sudden affectionate behaviour?

 

[spook]

Senile? Perhaps she is missing her "flock", not sure where your from, but our birds see much less of us in the winter months due to cold.
It will be super interesting to see what Turkey folks say about it.

 

[Chickee's Mom]

I think she is looking for a mate. She is showing herself to you, and she is probably going to start laying again. I have a young bronze hen that does that to me even if the Tom is right there, I always give her a good pet.

 

[jvls1942]

I believe she might be wanting to start laying again.. turkeys take the winter off, at least mine do..
I think mine started laying in the last half of Feb last year.. I would have to check my notes on that..

she is not too old..

what kind is she?? I have a way over abundance of Royal Palm Toms.. did you ever see five Royal Palms strutting at one time?? Looks like a bouquet of flowers..

My RP toms are quite tame, but the hens are just a bit stand-offish

 

[Harp Turkey Ranch]

What she is doing is laying down for you. She is looking to get bred to fertilize her eggs, it is that time of the year. I have a few hens that when I go out to feed and walk by there pens they squat for me and the tom proceeds. It is actually pretty funny. Only way to solve this is get her a tom or take her to where a tom is. A turkey will always lay eggs even at 10 years old.They just don't lay as many and a low fertility rate. It will pass with time.

 

[farmerlor]

Maybe she's adopted you as her turkey flock. Sounds lonely. Get her a boyfriend.

 

[spook]

How old do turkeys grow? I would have thought that 10, years old, she would have stopped laying many years ago. I'm amazed at the responses of her laying again

 

[jvls1942]

I am thinking 25 plus years.. maybe I am wrong, but I think I read that somewhere.. maybe it was geese.. It is written somewhere, though........

 

[catdance62]

thanks all for your responses. That is what I was thinking, but I had no idea how long she would live or lay for. The lady we got her from had peacocks taht wouldn't brood their eggs, so she had this turkey for brooding. She was getting out of the bird biz, so gave her to us since she new she would have a good home. She is a sweet old girl, we call her "Girlfriend". Sometimes the roosters try to do their little "dance" in front of her, but she runs them off..haha!

 

[sandspoultry]

Sounds like she has taken a liken to you and your husband. I have several hens that will lay down for me when I walk into the pen. The turkey hen is showing her submission to you. Remember in the turkey world that it is lady choice, unlike the chicken world. I love the name you have for her. Hopefully Spring is in the air!!!
Sharon