Turkey Squatting for me?

[Koko Acres]

I have three Bourbon Red turkey hens and one Bourbon Red turkey Tom. One of the turkey hens follows me around and squats when I turn to her. I’ve been petting her every time she does it because she’s so darned cute, but..is this going to continue forever? lol. This is my first experience with turkeys. I’ve raised them from poults and they are about 7 months old and not laying yet.

 

[Molpet]

She has bonded with humans and doesn't understand the difference.

but..is this going to continue forever?

Yes

 

[R2elk]

I have three Bourbon Red turkey hens and one Bourbon Red turkey Tom. One of the turkey hens follows me around and squats when I turn to her. I’ve been petting her every time she does it because she’s so darned cute, but..is this going to continue forever? lol. This is my first experience with turkeys. I’ve raised them from poults and they are about 7 months old and not laying yet.

She is assuming the breeding position and believes you are the tom.

Just hope that the tom doesn't consider you a hen or worse, competition.

 

[Koko Acres]

She is assuming the breeding position and believes you are the tom.

Just hope that the tom doesn't consider you a hen or worse, competition.

Yikes. Oh gosh. Can that happen?? I think I need to stop petting her and distance myself.

 

[Koko Acres]

She has bonded with humans and doesn't understand the difference.


Yes

This is not good news.

 

[R2elk]

Yikes. Oh gosh. Can that happen?? I think I need to stop petting her and distance myself.

Don't ever turn your back on him.

 

[Koko Acres]

Don't ever turn your back on him.

And this is the stuff of nightmares.

 

[R2elk]

It really isn't a good idea to imprint poults. They are experts at tugging on heart strings. Unfortunately they grow up and are big enough to cause serious injury.

I met a man who had scars on both sides of his face. He was down on his hands and knees trying to repair a hole in his fence when his human imprinted tom tried to "breed" his head.

 

[Molpet]

And this is the stuff of nightmares.

Yeah. I had so many bruises and gouges from my first turkeys.
I bought 4 imprinted poults and the dominant would attack me. I finally had enough and invited him to dinner. Unfortunately when the next Jake became dominant he also attacked me and repeat.
I invited those 4 to dinner and started over the next year with ones that weren't imprinted and haven't had any people aggression. But they do go after chickens they were raised with. Either fighting with cockerels or breeding chicken hens. I loose a chicken every so often.