A century of Turkey talk 2000-2100.

[memphis]

Aurora....tell your husband to get an Australian Shepherd. Much more user friendly than a BC.

 

[OneMountainAcres]

You have the same conundrum we do bout lgd. . Would love to have one but just leavin it with its animal would be hard for us. Hubby is lookin seriously at border collies. His partner in crime is most content nowadays in one of his comfy spots instead of bein attached at the hip all the time. He is about ten now and slowin down a lot. And hubby REALLY needs a companion for his ptsd and anxiety issues from his job. So instead of a lgd we are lookin at donkeys for the goats And sheeps when we get em most likely spring. Oye lol!

A donkey would be pretty cool! I know what you mean about the old companions slowing down. My hubby's dog is going on 14 (in February) and he likes to basically lay around and sleep his days away anymore.

If you adopt cats that are accustomed to outside life they'd be miserable and too hot inside. Mine are former ferals and I can't even touch them let alone be near them so the last thing they'd want is to be inside. They are basically a wild animal that somewhat tolerates or tolerates your presence depending how feral they are. Mine flee from all humans but are great mousers and find hiding places under the house and out in the woods to stay warm and dry.

Same thing with LGD bred for that purpose. They don't enjoy being a couch pet (some might) but instead have a strong desire to be with their herd/flock and are well equipped for the climate outside if living outside.

I had a Bernese/lab/husky mix dog in Alaska and she would have lived in a snowbank if I let her. She hated inside and loved snow... some breeds are odd like that!

I still have heat on my 7 week poults in the form of one area with a light just at night when it's dipping in the damp 40's but am turning it off soon since they've almost finished going through another round of feather shedding.

I think I could get over it being outside but I don't want it super feral. I'd still like it to be at least tolerant of people and willing to use a litter box in the garage or something (so they don't pee on everything).
Your right, some breeds just have a desire to be out there. Our Siberian husky LOVED to be outside, especially in the winter. She would ask to go out and just lay in the snow. We'd let her out there until she asked to come in. Usualy she wouldn't want to stay in for long though. But, once summer came, she preferred to stay inside, in the AC and on the kitchen floor lol.

Aurora....tell your husband to get an Australian Shepherd. Much more user friendly than a BC.

Um, no. I mentioned the BC to him this morning and he was actualy open to it. Not till next spring though at the earliest. He's a cat person, not a dog person. He only likes his dog lol

 

[PolarBerry]

The main benefit to an outside cat is no litter box!

 

[Bantambird]

Around here, lgd are essential if you want sheep or goats. Many families have two or three great Pyrenees per flock, and sometimes in wolf country, a couple of Akitas besides. I guess most of Montana is wolf country, and much of it is also grizzly country in the western half and most of the South. I'm not sure if anything stops grizzlies if they are hungry enough.

 

[PolarBerry]

Unsure what predators we have here but on 33 acres of woods I wouldn't be surprised to see coyote and cougar in our area with the occasional black bear. Whenever I get goats I am wait listed to get a LGD.

 

[duluthralphie]

I have decided I need to process a Young Turkey Tom. I am not going to wait for him to fatten up. He is DEAD MEAT!!!


I have the old leader in the grow out/cull pen for chickens. The young Tom refuses to leave him alone. I have the other two young bronze Toms in a Dog Kennel, thinking If I removed his sidekicks he would behave. He is by far the biggest and best looking Bronze Tom..

I had to run to Runnings for wood chip bedding. When I left I saw my RP Tom was all bloody from the shoulders to the top of my head.

When I got home my Lavender Tom is all bloody from the shoulders to the top of his head and hanging by the door to the coop....Inside the coop I find the RP Tom hiding in a corner. The Bronze Tom is sitting proud on top the fence. King Poop!

The RP and the Lavender Toms see me and run to stand next to me. I am sure they see me as the Biggest toughest Tom. They want my protection...

They will have it. King Poop is headed to a dog kennel tonight. Will be given Just water and be executed for his crimes at high Noon Tomorrow! (the word I just muttered can not be printed on BYC....But it is a word associated with unmarried parents again,,I say that word a lot when upset at a bird..)

 

[duluthralphie]

Unsure what predators we have here but on 33 acres of woods I wouldn't be surprised to see coyote and cougar in our area with the occasional black bear. Whenever I get goats I am wait listed to get a LGD.

I know some of you have seen this, those that have not look and shake in fear!

I thought only a coon would be this brave!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/surviving-minnesota.1052702/page-2695#post-19031105

 

[memphis]

Oh man Ralph....hate your loosing a nice tom...but geez!

And on a lighter note....

The little SS are wearing out my turkey hens. They are nonstop. The hens trudge along with them, and as soon as the SS stop to forage or dust bath the turkeys sit down & sort of half doze. When the babies want to rest, they hop on me to nap. Daisy hops on the arm of the chair & Annie sits on the ground. Both turkeys are quick to grab a snooze. They certainly are impressing me with their diligence.

 

[duluthralphie]

They need Babies of their own...
Get them some fertile eggs next year. Species does not seem to matter to them...

Maybe they could raise an iguana!

 

[memphis]

No....I'm fine with my two girls. Trying to maintain the Zen hen pen.