Kaye's free range turkey thread

[generaldsherman]

Got her off the barn roof only to have the chihuahua scare her up a pole...
Out of the frying pan and into the fire. (got her down eventually)




BTW: if anyone on this thread is in Idaho I am hunting for a tom to breed my hen. Also, any ideas what breed she is?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Looks like a bronze. Good thing she didn't get fried.

 

[Daveym]

I just got my turkeys. There are lots of predators here, scared to free range them, how can I try it?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I just got my turkeys. There are lots of predators here, scared to free range them, how can I try it?

How old are your turkeys? Mine are out when I'm around or outside so I can keep an eye on them. I have plenty of chickens that will disappear before anything will mess with a turkey. I haven't had and predator problems with mine. I do lock them in their run at night, but it's not exactly secured, but nothing messes with them. I did have a skunk eating their eggs last year, but that's been it.

 

[Daveym]

The tom is 3, hens are 1. Also afraid they'll run away lol

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I recommend supervised free ranging with a run for them to go at night. There are too many stories of people finding domesticated turkeys wandering in their yard. My guess is they wander too far during free ranging or they follow the wild turkeys and can't find their way back home.

Turkeys can be a pain if they are always out. They fly up on everything. They will roost on roofs and power lines, and hang outside your house like a gang of thugs. It is a brave soul who keeps their turkeys free range. Now my experiences are with a flock that numbers generally around 15. A smaller bunch might not be as bad.

Another issue is hens will hide their nests in long grass and could be at risk of predation while setting eggs, and poults can get lost, and survival rates are lower than hens who are confined with the poults during the first week or two.