A century of Turkey talk 2000-2100.

[Flashpoint]

As it has happened so much lately, I have no internet. Power has come and gone a few times. I'm starting to really dislike rain. I think I now live in a rainforest!?!?

 

[memphis]

Morning folks! I have removed myself from the swampy south and am up in Ste. Genevieve. What a nice break from the heat & humidity! Sat outside last night riverside in a restored 1820 "vertical " log cabin enjoying adult beverages with a historian who specializes in Missouri history. A lovely evening was enjoyed by all!
The person with the cabin wants to get chickens. After much debate and lots of pictures we are adding turkeys to the flock! Exciting! I'm getting to help design the coops. Vernacular 1820 french creole architecture. I was deemed the right person for this task after explaining my turkey nest boxes based on the turn radius of a typical turkey hen. Nothing like a bunch of nerds sitting on the banks of the river drinking adult beverages!

 

[duluthralphie]

Morning folks! I have removed myself from the swampy south and am up in Ste. Genevieve. What a nice break from the heat & humidity! Sat outside last night riverside in a restored 1820 "vertical " log cabin enjoying adult beverages with a historian who specializes in Missouri history. A lovely evening was enjoyed by all!
The person with the cabin wants to get chickens. After much debate and lots of pictures we are adding turkeys to the flock! Exciting! I'm getting to help design the coops. Vernacular 1820 french creole architecture. I was deemed the right person for this task after explaining my turkey nest boxes based on the turn radius of a typical turkey hen. Nothing like a bunch of nerds sitting on the banks of the river drinking adult beverages!

That's so cute, you think St Genevieve is not the swampy south....It may be less swampy than Memphis but still the south!!!


I have never bothered to compute the average turn ratio of a turkey...That would be an interesting discussion.

I had a bedtime defector last night. One of the bronze Toms thought he should sit on the outside of the fence.

I had to shove him, gently off the fence and tell him to go to bed. Do you know how slow a turkey can walk towards it's coop when it does not want to go in? I bet it took 5 minutes to travel 15 ft.

 

[Finnie]

That's so cute, you think St Genevieve is not the swampy south....

As a Michigander displaced south of the border here in Indiana, I was thinking the same thing!

 

[memphis]

Ralphie...my turkeys saunter. Never in a hurry for much. My chickens always seem to march around with determination....my turkeys saunter.
And yes...I determined the turn ratio of a turkey hen as to preserve their tail feathers going in and out of their nest boxes. Wanted to avoid tattered tails. It worked. They have beautiful tails. All based upon ADA requirements for handicapped accessibility.
Yes Memphis is the SOUTH! The St. Louis area does not have the southern flair Memphis does. Although both are comparatively hot & humid. Memphis, by the way, has a MUCH milder winter.

 

[rjohns39]

I had to shove him, gently off the fence and tell him to go to bed. Do you know how slow a turkey can walk towards it's coop when it does not want to go in? I bet it took 5 minutes to travel 15 ft.

They are like Teenagers who don't want to go to bed when its bed time.

 

[rjohns39]

Ralphie...my turkeys saunter. Never in a hurry for much. My chickens always seem to march around with determination....my turkeys saunter.
And yes...I determined the turn ratio of a turkey hen as to preserve their tail feathers going in and out of their nest boxes. Wanted to avoid tattered tails. It worked. They have beautiful tails. All based upon ADA requirements for handicapped accessibility.
Yes Memphis is the SOUTH! The St. Louis area does not have the southern flair Memphis does. Although both are comparatively hot & humid. Memphis, by the way, has a MUCH milder winter.

My adult turkeys Saunter, unless treats are involved... The kids on the other hand are having a ton of fun exercising their wings--all within the safety of the electric fence. When one occasionally over shoots the fence it will either run to me or to the gate if I'm inside. The kids are really cute and playful--yet when they violate turkey law, the hens are quick to correct.

 

[rjohns39]

As a Michigander displaced south of the border here in Indiana, I was thinking the same thing!

I used to love to play in the UP. DW wasn't having anything to do with the winters up there.

 

[duluthralphie]

My adult turkeys Saunter, unless treats are involved... The kids on the other hand are having a ton of fun exercising their wings--all within the safety of the electric fence. When one occasionally over shoots the fence it will either run to me or to the gate if I'm inside. The kids are really cute and playful--yet when they violate turkey law, the hens are quick to correct.

Mine saunter unless food is involved too, then they stampede.

 

[rjohns39]

Have you ever had a Tom mix it up with a Barred Owl? According to birds of Tennessee, they're 17 1/2" tall and about 1.3 pounds. One of my new cockerels was dumb enough to stick his head through the wire in his shelter last night and lost it. But at the scene were Barred Owl and black Turkey feathers. Apparently, after taking the head and eating it, he returned for more of his prey, I'm guessing that's when the turkeys engaged. I've watched the boys chase off a barn owl before--but this just seems strange to me.