A century of Turkey talk 2000-2100.

[PolarBerry]

When my turkeys are confined to their 50'x100' run they have approximately 600 Sq. ft. per bird. When I get up in the morning I release mine to free range on approximately 2 acres that are fenced in with a 6' tall 2"x4" welded wire fence. They get to free range all day until it is time to shut them in for the night.

I find hawks to be no problem for adult turkeys. I used to have Bald and Golden Eagles circle and fly over during the winter months but none ever bothered the turkeys. Fox used to be a problem many years ago but pretty much disappeared when the coyotes moved in. I have not had any dogs or coyotes inside my perimeter fence since I put it up but dogs were a big problem before this perimeter fence. I have heard of neighbors losing livestock to mountain lions and one day even found mountain lion prints walking up the trail between my property and the paved road but have not had a problem with them.

I keep a live trap baited with eggs set year round and eliminate any skunks, cats and raccoons that venture into the trap.

You could probably toss a soccer type ball into the pen to give your turkeys something to amuse themselves with.

They have a ball and other things to play with but I may let them have use of one of my newly constructed meat chicken tractors while the chicks are still in a brooder and after they’ve gone. Let them get some foraging of a different area. Although I’m sure having 5 birds in the area vs 8 will also help since the 3 on the to-go list are 2 male guinea fowl that attack turkey feathers and the other Tom (who is blind in one eye and starts fights but loses).

 

[duluthralphie]

I might have missed something, as I have been extremely busy...

Is someone having guinea/turkey conflicts? When I had guineas I never had that problem, but I am a firm believer in having 15-20 guineas (never less than a dozen) so all the conflict stays within the guinea tribe. I know people say they raise one or two guineas with no problems and they are friendly----- BUT that is like Mrs. James talking about what a good boy little Jesse is....

I have losses from predators, but it is because of where I live. I am in the middle of a "federal Wildlife refuge" where the trapping or killing on federal lands of predators of any type is frowned upon.

I surround my property with live traps. I don't dare use jaw type because of my birds, dogs and cats. I need my cats without them I am over run with rats, mice, squirrels, chipmunks and other rodents. People from the Twin Cities live trap their problem rodents and bring them out here to run free in the country where they can live in peace on a "wildlife refuge"...... I have a name for those people, but saying it could hurt my election chances and cause me a few days of detention here.

Kestrils are my biggest problem with young poults and chicks, I pray to the mythical god of lead, that they fall over dead, sometimes they seem too. I would never shoot one as the fine here would be astronomical.

I have some eagle and hawk problems, but not all that many. I have more roosters than I should which helps with preventing excessive hen death.

The turkeys are normally safe from birds of prey, other than the young or a hen that tries to safe the young.

I will kill any coyote, fox, raccoon, possum or other fur bearing creature I can in any method I can. I think we need to restore bounties on those critters again.....and put a 12 per year limit on hawks and eagles...just because it would upset the PETA people....

Signed your peace loving future congressman....

 

[Bantambird]

I might have missed something, as I have been extremely busy...

Is someone having guinea/turkey conflicts? When I had guineas I never had that problem, but I am a firm believer in having 15-20 guineas (never less than a dozen) so all the conflict stays within the guinea tribe. I know people say they raise one or two guineas with no problems and they are friendly----- BUT that is like Mrs. James talking about what a good boy little Jesse is....

I have losses from predators, but it is because of where I live. I am in the middle of a "federal Wildlife refuge" where the trapping or killing on federal lands of predators of any type is frowned upon.

I surround my property with live traps. I don't dare use jaw type because of my birds, dogs and cats. I need my cats without them I am over run with rats, mice, squirrels, chipmunks and other rodents. People from the Twin Cities live trap their problem rodents and bring them out here to run free in the country where they can live in peace on a "wildlife refuge"...... I have a name for those people, but saying it could hurt my election chances and cause me a few days of detention here.

Kestrils are my biggest problem with young poults and chicks, I pray to the mythical god of lead, that they fall over dead, sometimes they seem too. I would never shoot one as the fine here would be astronomical.

I have some eagle and hawk problems, but not all that many. I have more roosters than I should which helps with preventing excessive hen death.

The turkeys are normally safe from birds of prey, other than the young or a hen that tries to safe the young.

I will kill any coyote, fox, raccoon, possum or other fur bearing creature I can in any method I can. I think we need to restore bounties on those critters again.....and put a 12 per year limit on hawks and eagles...just because it would upset the PETA people....

Signed your peace loving future congressman....

I'm sorry the city near your home got too big for its britches and feels like taking over the surrounding farmlands to make parks out of them. Dirty urbanites have no real idea what they are doing, thinking they are saving the world by imposing such burdens on poor country folk.
My DH said Cali is the same way. Destroy the land to save the land, to heck with traditional conservation and the people who have been practicing its tenents since time immemorable.

 

[PolarBerry]

Around here we call them “cit-iots” (city idiots in case it doesn’t translate well online)...

Anyway yes, was me with the guineas and turkeys. I had 20+ keets that mostly died from one thing or another (I think they got chilled in shipment) and so only 2 have survived. One is blind in one eye and screams extra to make up for it... husband says they are too loud so they’ll be going away soon enough regardless if I had 20 or 2.

 

[yoopergirl1211]

Wow I need to learn about turkey genetics. I have really only studied Muscovy genetics so far. I'm obsessed with having every color and have people driving a long way to buy my babies. I got the code to see the short list of porters available babies to order. Hoping the tiger bronze is on there!

 

[R2elk]

Wow I need to learn about turkey genetics. I have really only studied Muscovy genetics so far. I'm obsessed with having every color and have people driving a long way to buy my babies. I got the code to see the short list of porters available babies to order. Hoping the tiger bronze is on there!

You can play with Porter's Turkey Color Calculator to learn about turkey color genetics. Uncheck the Hide Genotypes button so you can see the genetic results.

 

[yoopergirl1211]

They do!!!

 

[yoopergirl1211]

Oh and apparently my Palm boy is settling in to his new home. Their girl is already in love with him and they named him Larry. Which fits him perfectly lol

 

[duluthralphie]

My Boys are so well behaved. They come running to me, they talk to me, all trying to talk louder than the next guy. They follow me without attempting to attack.

They are angels....Who would have guessed putting the girls in a convent would make the boys so well behaved.

I guess as with humans.....the girls are the trouble makers......

 

[Bantambird]

Hatch day for my first batch of turkey eggs is next Thursday. I've invited the local 4H kids to come take a look on hatch day, since I have the acrylic door on the Hatcher. They are super stoked, plus I'll be able to candle some two week eggs for them to see the turkey eggs dancing.