St Valentine’s Day is when folklore says that wild birds take a partner for the mating season. Whether this is fact or fiction I don’t know but certainly by February the male turkeys are encouraging the females to mate with them and warding off other males.

Males seemingly have an inbuilt sexual need to be ‘top turkey’ and testosterone will come to the fore. Even if several males have been happily living together since poults, once they are mature and Spring is round the corner it is everyone for himself when it comes to catching a female’s eye.

In fact the males will have quite severe fights and sometimes very bloody confrontations. Usually they can be left to get on with it but you do need to keep watch for how things progress. Obviously, if one male is really getting mugged, to the point when his head and neck are being severely pecked and abused, you have to intervene and separate them. Once you have taken a victimised turkey out of this situation you cannot put him back very easily, or the others will continue where they left off.

I have managed to almost overcome this by taking two rather bullied males out of a pen of six, to range freely the other side of the fence during the day, returning them to the group when fed in their house in late afternoon and shut in. They are all hungry so feed quite amicably, after which they go onto their perches for the evening and are fine until let out again next morning, when separation takes place again.

As soon as a male reaches maturity, which is from about six months of age, he will also ‘drum’. This action gives the impression that he is stamping up and down very rapidly on the spot, with back humped, feathers fluffed out and wings down beside him. This is not an aggressive display; it is a preparatory sexual act as well as a sign to others that he is ready to mate.

When mating occurs it is the female that calls the tune. She squats before the male and if he is taking no notice, she will get up, walk around him and squat again. Squatting is a natural action for females. Their hormones take over and regardless of whether they are with males or not, they will do it. Females will even squat for the person who looks after them but with a few strokes, some kind words and some feed, they soon get over this urge.

A successful mating will result in the female turkey being fertile for several weeks, which is why it is so important that different varieties of turkey are kept separately from one another. It only takes one illicit mating for ‘gene drift’ to affect what is produced, resulting in a cross-breed.

Come the mating season female turkeys that are running with males should have saddles fitted to them. A saddle is a breakfast plate sized piece of leather or thick canvas with a semi-circle of thicker strips on the upper part. The saddle sits on the back of the female and her wings pass through straps that hold the saddle in position. The male balances on the saddle and the strips catch his claws when he treads so that they do not scrape down her sides and rip the skin.

A saddle will not restrict a turkey at all. She will still be able to fly, jump, have dust baths and carry out other day to day turkey matters. She will preen around it but it is a good idea to regularly check that the saddle is not rubbing and making any part of her sore. It is also essential to check that her feathers are not covering up any mating damage. Even with a saddle on, a male can still damage the female if she is knocked sideways and he treads her side rather than her back. If injured she may look rather sorry for herself and hold her wings in a slightly droopy fashion. Should this happen isolate her immediately, take off the saddle and investigate the extent of any wounds. Any slight scratches can be dusted with antiseptic wound powder and she will soon get better. Sometimes the damage can be more serious and may warrant a visit to the vet for stitches and an antibiotic. Even when females have been badly damaged this way, so long as they are treated immediately, it is amazing how well they recover.

For further information on turkey saddles contact The Turkey Club UK, Cults Farmhouse, Whithorn, Newton Stewart, DG8 8HA Tel: 01988 600763, Or online at www.turkeyclub.org.uk or e-mail info@turkeyclub.org.uk. n