A Sentience Article from All-Creatures.org

Animal Intelligence, Love, and Divorce

From The Gentle Barn
December 2023

Turkeys are typically a patriarchal society with a single male living with the females and youngsters. It is usually normal for a male to mate with the females, but Marsha had other plans and different values that she expected Monty to uphold. It just goes to show us that all animals are different and must be treated as individuals.

Many years ago, we rescued two turkeys, Monty and Marsha. They were a mated pair and did everything in tandem. They ate together, slept side by side, and spent much of their day cuddling. The two of them lived in their own private bubble, speaking their own language, and basked in the glow of love that only soulmates can share.

Years later, we rescued several younger female turkeys from Thanksgiving. At first, Monty paid them no attention, having eyes only for Marsha. They stayed separate, doing their own thing, and even slept in their own corner of the barn. As long as Monty was focused on her, Marsha acted as if she couldn’t even see that other turkeys were there. As the summer temperatures cooled, the days shortened, and the orange, red, and yellow barnyard turned into fall, which is mating season for turkeys, the new ladies started flirting and Monty started flirting back. Angrily, Marsha would step in between Monty and the other ladies and escort her mate elsewhere. That worked for a few weeks, but Marsha was losing control over her man, and, eventually, Monty could not resist and mated with them. Marsha was furious!

For the rest of their lives, Marsha and Monty slept, ate, and spent their days separately. Monty tried repeatedly to apologize and win her back, but Marsha never forgave him. When we offered her treats, Marsha would refuse even her favorites if Monty approached. Marsha made friends with some of the other older females, and Monty was left to his own devices with the younger females. Marsha sought the comfort and affections of her human caregivers and guests for cuddles and never again cuddled with Monty.

Turkeys are typically a patriarchal society with a single male living with the females and youngsters. It is usually normal for a male to mate with the females, but Marsha had other plans and different values that she expected Monty to uphold. It just goes to show us that all animals are different and must be treated as individuals. At The Gentle Barn, that is exactly how we treat our rescued sweethearts, we only wish we could have helped Monty and Marsha’s marriage, had we only known!

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