Why Do Turkeys Eat More Chicken Than Chickens Eat Turkey?

As Thanksgiving approaches turkeys are on a lot of people’s minds. Turkeys have become synonymous with Thanksgiving ever since the Pilgrims and Native Americans supposedly shared wild turkey at the first Thanksgiving feast. These days 46 million turkeys are eaten on Thanksgiving in the United States each year!

Even though turkeys are traditionally what’s for dinner on Thanksgiving, we actually eat a lot more chicken overall Chicken is easier to raise and cheaper to buy than turkey. But an interesting fact is that in nature, turkeys actually eat more chickens than vice versa!

Why is this the case? Keep reading to find out why turkeys eat more chicken than chickens eat turkey.

Turkeys Are Bigger and More Aggressive Than Chickens

One of the main reasons that turkeys eat more chickens is because they are larger and more powerful. The average turkey is much bigger than a chicken.

• Turkeys usually weigh between 10-25 pounds.
• Chickens only weigh 2-5 pounds typically.

With their larger size turkeys are able to easily overpower chickens. If a turkey decides to attack a chicken the poor chicken doesn’t stand much of a chance.

In addition to their size advantage, turkeys are also more aggressive by nature than chickens are. Chickens can be aggressive too, but turkeys are especially known for their aggression and will sometimes attack chickens unprovoked.

The turkey’s greater size and strength combined with their naturally more aggressive temperament results in them eating more chickens than vice versa. A chicken rarely gets the chance to attack and eat a turkey!

Turkeys Are Opportunistic Eaters

Another factor that leads to turkeys consuming more chickens is that turkeys are opportunistic eaters. They will eat just about anything they can catch and swallow.

Turkeys have diverse diets, including:

• Insects
• Worms
• Snails
• Salamanders
• Frogs
• Lizards
• Snakes
• Rodents
• Berries
• Seeds
• Acorns
• Grains
• Grass
• Ferns
• Fungi

If a turkey spots a vulnerable chick or chicken wandering around, they will absolutely take advantage of the opportunity for an easy meal. Since chickens are smaller and not as strong or aggressive, they make perfect turkey prey.

Turkeys Are Protective of Their Young

Mother turkeys, called hens, are very protective of their young. If a hen turkey senses a threat to her chicks, called poults, she will attack the predator viciously.

Chickens sometimes wander too close to a turkey hen’s poults. When this happens, the protective mama turkey will attack and kill the chicken swiftly, even eating the dead chicken afterwards.

Turkey poults are vulnerable when they’re young because of their small size. So the mother turkeys are hardwired to eliminate any animal that they perceive as a risk to their babies.

Turkeys Have a Keen Sense of Smell

Turkeys rely heavily on their sense of smell to find food. They can often smell hidden insects or animals that make good prey. Chickens don’t have nearly as strong of a sense of smell.

When turkeys detect the scent of chickens in their territory, it triggers their predatory instincts. Even if the chickens are safely in a coop, the tempting smell sometimes leads turkeys to attack the coops and eat chickens trapped inside.

Turkeys Are Highly Social

Turkeys live together in large flocks called rafters. There can be over 100 turkeys living together in one rafter!

This social structure helps turkeys when hunting prey. When one turkey discovers a chicken, it will call loudly to attract the other turkeys over to share in the meal. Several turkeys attacking at once increases their odds of success.

Turkeys View Chickens as Competition

Although chickens aren’t as large or aggressive, turkeys still view groups of chickens as competition. Turkeys prefer to have food sources and territory to themselves whenever possible.

By picking off chickens one by one, turkeys can eliminate competition. Their goal is to gain more access to food, water, shelter, and nesting sites. Fewer chickens means more resources for the turkeys.

Predator and Prey Relationships Are Rarely Equal

In the predator-prey food chain, relationships are rarely 50/50. One species usually ends up as prey much more frequently. Many factors come into play that give advantages to certain predators.

For example, eagles eat far more snakes than vice versa. Lions eat many more zebras than the reverse. And when bears and wolves cross paths, the bears win most face-offs.

Similarly, turkeys dominate chickens much more often than chickens get lucky against bigger, smarter turkeys. Nature isn’t fair! The turkey definitely ends up eating a lot more chicken dinner.

How to Keep Chickens Safe from Turkeys

If you raise backyard chickens, you may suddenly find turkeys encroaching on your flock. Here are some tips to protect your beloved chickens:

• Add more shelter space so chickens can escape.
• Enclose the bottom of coops so turkeys can’t get underneath.
• Use fencing at least 5 feet tall around the chickens’ area.
• Scare off turkeys with loud noises and spray bottles.
• Allow chickens to free range only when supervised.
• House chickens in an indoor coop at night for safety.
• Distract turkeys by spreading corn or bird seed far away from the chickens.

Is Chicken Healthy for Turkeys to Eat?

In the wild, turkeys eating chickens is simply part of nature’s food chain. But is chicken actually healthy for turkeys to eat as part of their regular diet?

There are a few things to consider regarding turkeys eating chicken:

• Bacteria risk – Chickens carry salmonella and other bacteria that can make turkeys sick if the meat isn’t fully cooked. Raw or undercooked chicken poses a health risk.

• Stress behavior – Eating chickens too often can lead to aggressive behavior. Turkeys may start attacking people, pets, vehicles, or other birds habitually.

• Territorial issues – Repeatedly eating chickens on a farm will teach turkeys to view the chickens as prey. They may attack coops and kill large numbers of chickens, seeing them only as food.

• Nutritional balance – While occasional treats are fine, chicken shouldn’t make up the bulk of a turkey’s diet. A balanced diet is healthiest.

Overall, turkeys eating chickens now and then in small amounts is normal. But a steady diet of chicken flesh could lead to health and behavioral troubles for domestic turkeys. It’s healthiest to offer proper turkey feed and treats.

The Turkey-Chicken Dynamic is Complex

As we’ve explored, there are many reasons why turkeys end up eating a lot more chicken than vice versa. But even though they are predators of chickens, turkeys still play an important ecological role alongside chickens and other birds.

The turkey-chicken dynamic is complex. Nature maintains an equilibrium over time. As humans introduce turkeys and chickens into shared environments like farms and backyards, it’s up to us to understand their instincts and behaviors in order to keep them healthy and safe.

This Thanksgiving as you sit down to gobble down your holiday turkey, take a moment to appreciate the turkey’s place in nature. They may end up eating more chickens, but turkeys are remarkable birds that deserve our respect!