A century of Turkey talk 2000-2100.

[R2elk]

I’m about ready to get put like a funnel into the coop so when I crazily chase them with the broom or rake or whatnot they can’t bolt to the side or squeeze under the door to avoid going in. Once they’re in they’re content and relaxed but going through the door seems to scare them I guess.

If you have not tried it you will be surprised by using long sticks to extend your reach. Hold the sticks out wide and go slow moving the turkeys in the direction that you want them to go. Running after them does no good and only makes matters worse. Turkeys can be herded.

 

[PolarBerry]

I tried herding them and they fly up over the sticks and a few hit me in the face (mainly the guineas). When I’d follow them they’d get in a corner and I’d have my husband shut off the flashlight and I’d grab them and carry to the door.

One of my hens makes some serious R2-D2 noises when picked up in the dark

 

[R2elk]

I tried herding them and they fly up over the sticks and a few hit me in the face (mainly the guineas). When I’d follow them they’d get in a corner and I’d have my husband shut off the flashlight and I’d grab them and carry to the door.

One of my hens makes some serious R2-D2 noises when picked up in the dark

You have to train them and they do learn. I have no trouble herding my guineas into their coop every evening. I only use one long stick and tap it on the ground as I approach them. I do not get within touching distance of them. If you are so close to them that you can almost touch them with the sticks, you are too close. You also need to be putting them in while there is plenty of light in the coop. If it is already getting dark out it is best to turn a light on in the coop.

Good luck.

 

[PolarBerry]

Before the shavings to sand change I’d leave them out till sunset (so about half an hour to dark) and turn on the light in the coop and they’d all go in one by one (with the guineas screaming at me for mealworms).

I think they’ll come in again on their own once they realize it’s not some Indiana Jones style quicksand of doom that I filled the coop with.

They just did not appreciate the change in the slightest. It got dark because I was trying so long to bribe them in with food and mealworms.

 

[OneMountainAcres]

My turkeys are all perfect little angels and go in to the coop on their own when it gets dark out. They like that it's still light in there (gotta have a night light!) Every evening, when I go out to close up the coops, I always go to the chicken coop first and a few turkeys will wander out of their coop to watch for me. But when they see me coming, they just wait till I start sitting their door and slip right in. Unfortunately tooth, I can't free range mine anymore so that probably helps a lot.

 

[Molpet]

I have one jake that sits on the coop door that I have to wack with a stick most nights... better than the hen that kept roosting in the tree

 

[memphis]

R2elk made a good point....slow, VERY SLOW, and easy when herding turkeys. But, like Aurora, mine are used to their evening routine & are easy to get into their pen. "Routine" being the operable word here. They are usually waiting by the gate for their evening walk. I wander around with them and as it gets darker they will usually start heading toward their coop. When they get into the backyard, they do that funny turkey trot to their pen. That's when they get one big bite of BOSS. I swear they enjoy socializing with the neighbors on their evening stroll. There is one couple that walks their tiny white dog. They always stop to chat. Annie was standing nearby grazing. The old dog wandered over to see what she was eating. They were nose to beak. The little dog wears a coat that Annie had to investigative. They both act like old friends. But this dog is ancient and has never barked or made a threatening move toward the girls. I guess they have just gotten used to seeing each other.

 

[duluthralphie]

I have one jake that sits on the coop door that I have to wack with a stick most nights... better than the hen that kept roosting in the tree

More Proof some turkeys just like to be slapped up!

 

[duluthralphie]

R2elk made a good point....slow, VERY SLOW, and easy when herding turkeys. But, like Aurora, mine are used to their evening routine & are easy to get into their pen. "Routine" being the operable word here. They are usually waiting by the gate for their evening walk. I wander around with them and as it gets darker they will usually start heading toward their coop. When they get into the backyard, they do that funny turkey trot to their pen. That's when they get one big bite of BOSS. I swear they enjoy socializing with the neighbors on their evening stroll. There is one couple that walks their tiny white dog. They always stop to chat. Annie was standing nearby grazing. The old dog wandered over to see what she was eating. They were nose to beak. The little dog wears a coat that Annie had to investigative. They both act like old friends. But this dog is ancient and has never barked or made a threatening move toward the girls. I guess they have just gotten used to seeing each other.

I use a stick to herd mine if they refuse to follow me. Most the time they will follow me anywhere....except for going into the coop. You have all hens, Hens are nice and polite...

I have way too many Toms. They are constantly juggling to be the alpha Male. This is the reason one of them is thinking about challenging me as his last move on earth... Right now, I just tell him to back off or try out a roasting pan for size and he stops...

I expect to be using the PVC pipe cutter on him in the next 2 months. As it happens to be, he is the one sitting on the fence that I have to sucker punch off it each night.

One squeeze on the handle of the cutter and both my probelms would come to an end. Unfortunately, he has a color pattern I want to breed, so for now he lives.

I am well aware of the dangers of too many Toms. When breeding season starts, I will be locking the hens up to protect them from the Toms.

 

[Flashpoint]

Merry Christmas to all my BYC friends Getting it out early tonight as I expect to begin my hermitage adventure (pulling curtains, locking doors and gates) after tomorrow morning.