A century of Turkey talk 2000-2100.

[Flashpoint]

At that age they are in prime, "I wanna commit Suicide" mode. Make them go in. Mine that age still live in a rubber room for their own protection. I have some at nearly 3 months that want out so badly, but I want them alive just as much.




Welcome back!




I find it "different" I would be lying if I said the new version is as "fun" to use and visit on as the old one. Hopefully, I will get use to it.

I think its harder. For me, I depend on my alerts and can often google a question and get the answer I need from HERE quicker than just finding it on the site.

 

[Flashpoint]

At that age they are in prime, "I wanna commit Suicide" mode. Make them go in. Mine that age still live in a rubber room for their own protection. I have some at nearly 3 months that want out so badly, but I want them alive just as much.

Thanks, Ralphie - and I totally agree with the suicide mode description. I have made them go in every night except for the fiasco night before last when they treed themselves and wouldn't come down. It won't happen again (hope) and will even make a 30 foot long net if necessary!

 

[duluthralphie]

@Flashpoint Good luck as one that has had more than his share of bedtime antics of turkeys. I sympathize.

 

[Flashpoint]

Hi CherMoz....where you've been??

I agree....your birds need to be in their pens at night for their own protection. Coons, owls, you name it...lots of nighttime predators. They are young, start training them to go into their pen now.

I agree with you, Memphis! It aggravated me to no end for me to let it happen in the first place! lol. I am well aware of our local predators though I ALSO had to check on the fisher described elsewhere and in the video!! I did NOT know about that critter and it appears they are very common in this area. I have NEVER seen one - but with my luck.... Anyway, most of what I read said that they are extremely prolific in Garrett Co (neighboring county) but contrary to what a lot of folks believe, I KNOW the animals do NOT read and obey county lines.

Fisher by Josh More, Flickr CC BY-NC-ND 2.0​

I have seen the bears up close and personal. I have seen the "so-called extinct in this area" cougars. Of course, the DNR around here insist on using semantics to say "no wild" cougars (puma, mountain lion, etc) are in Allegany Co. That is so much BS because I have seen the tawny brown ones several times and even had one jump over top of my car one evening. I have also seen a black one in our back pasture years ago when I was living on a 500 acre farm that had a lot of rocky cliff and wooded areas on it. There's a longish story about DNR and my interactions with them!!! They conveniently forget about telling me they had released several pairs trying to get them to make a come back. lol

And of course, we have the more ordinary opossums, raccoons, bobcats, skunks, owls, hawks, and eagles. There is even a population of feral pigs.

I have lived in this area for almost 40 years and on this place since 2000. Other than a fox that took my duck a couple weeks ago and a hawk that snatched a duckling right in front of me a couple years ago, I have not had any losses due to wildlife that I know of or can point to specifically.

 

[Flashpoint]

Ralph, fun is the right word. I'm still learning. Hopefully once I get used to it ... I'll find it easier/more fun.
Flashpoint, my girls get their bedtime treat, BOSS, when they go into their pen for the night. Needless to say they are usually hanging out by the pen in the evening. You might want to establish a bedtime routine with them.

Memphis - getting ready to start another batch of mealworms to use as treats. I had them last year but hadn't started any lately. It's on my "list" again.

 

[memphis]

Flashpoint...turkeys are very trainable. I can get Daisy through a dog agility course. Well...except for the tunnel. And she tends to hop up on the jumps instead of just flying/jumping over them. But she's great on the weave poles and other obstacles. Point being, your Turkey's can be trained to coop at night. I wouldn't let them start roosting in the trees. Once they figure something out, its hard to change their minds!

 

[Flashpoint]

Flashpoint...turkeys are very trainable. I can get Daisy through a dog agility course. Well...except for the tunnel. And she tends to hop up on the jumps instead of just flying/jumping over them. But she's great on the weave poles and other obstacles. Point being, your Turkey's can be trained to coop at night. I wouldn't let them start roosting in the trees. Once they figure something out, its hard to change their minds!

I understand what you mean about being trainable. I might try to do that later down the road. Right now, I think it's awesome that you have Daisy doing the course. And, I think I am lucky so far that these four run to greet me (and see what I have for them to eat) lol.

I once broke a red and white holstein steer to saddle - that was fun, too!!

 

[duluthralphie]

I understand what you mean about being trainable. I might try to do that later down the road. Right now, I think it's awesome that you have Daisy doing the course. And, I think I am lucky so far that these four run to greet me (and see what I have for them to eat) lol.

I once broke a red and white holstein steer to saddle - that was fun, too!!

Well,, My Brother and I were into riding black and white Holsteins...

Until our Dad caught us....then we had a hard time just sitting let alone bronco riding.....

 

[Flashpoint]

Well,, My Brother and I were into riding black and white Holsteins...

Until our Dad caught us....then we had a hard time just sitting let alone bronco riding.....

I take it they were his dairy holsteins? I can only imagine what your daddy did. lol. I think the first thing I rode was a big brown goat at age 4. By five I had transitioned to the neighbor's mule. (I loved that mule!) At age 6, I threatened to run away from home in a snow storm to go live with the neighbor down the road a mile and who had horses. My dad didn't believe me, but said "well, just go for it, little missy!".

(I knew I'd find a use for this one!)

So I did - went out in the snow storm, got on the hard road we lived near. Walked to the neighbor's (at around 9pm at night now). She had just opened the door when Dad showed up. (cringing here)

BUT!

At age 8 I woke up to a pony under my window. His name was Jet and he soon had his own place at the table (through a window) and would often eat pancakes with me and my other 7--8 siblings.

 

[Flashpoint]

Btw, my red and white steer even neck reined. He even learned to pull logs - but man, he was "iffy" pulling a cart!