Anyone else have/raise Eastern Wilds?

[easttxchick]

Just curious because I am VERY new to them.
Doing a bit of research, it seems illegal to keep them in many states so I feel fortunate to be able to have them here.
Any information anyone can share with me on them would be appreciated. Temperament, life span, etc.

 

[ColbyNTX]

The problem being finding sombody who actually has Eastern Wild Turkeys. 99.9% of pet turkeys people call eastern wilds are just a bronze. Kinda like people calling easter egger chickens ameracaunas. You will be hard pressed to find eastern wilds. It will have to be from a wildlife rehab place of some kind. I don't know anybody who actually has them so I can't tell you. The most I have ever seen of them is the Nature show that aired on PBS this week, "My life as a turkey". I think it plays again tomorrow? Look up nature on PBS and watch the show, it is great! Watch it and look at those turkeys compaired to what people call "eastern wilds". Look how sleek the real wilds are and how long and thin the legs are. This man was their mother and they talked to eachother and lived togather for a year or so. I don't want to spoil the show so watch it!

 

[easttxchick]

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Thank you for that info-I am so new to them that I am totally ignorant and not ashamed to admit it!

I watched a snippet of that show you're talking about and teared up like a little girl...I'm such a wimp when it comes to shows like that that I can't watch them. Shame on me!
I obviously need to do more research on breeds of turkeys!

 

[ColbyNTX]

There are some beautiful bronze turkeys here in East Texas that make great pets! There are no ignorant questions! Just be careful and sutdy pictures from the NWTF ot Texas Parks & Wildlife of real easterns and compair that to what people selling as "eastern wilds" and you will see a world of difference. I live near Carthage and don't know if you are near there but I will have some nice bronze this spring if your interested.

The guy on the on the left in the left pic is about as much % wild as you find. Look at his colors and yu can see a bit of his dark, thin legs. I will try to get a better pic of him.

 

[easttxchick]

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Yep, that's what my boy looks like! It doesn't matter to me because I love the big goofball, but it's good to know.
I actually live just north of Beaumont and have been to Carthage a few times so I know your general area. I may very well be interested in getting some poults from you in the spring.

 

[jasonm11]

Cross with a bourbon red hen and you can get a beautiful red bronze bird that really looks nice.

 

[easttxchick]

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Thank you for the information. I have so far to go to learn about them.

 

[SuperPeacockman]

HINKJC has purebreed Eastern wilds.

 

[AKeaton]

I know this is going to sound crazy, but I have an Eastern Wild Turkey. We live on 33 wooded acres, bordering 2300 acres of hunt club property and she adopted us. She just showed up one day, and stayed outside of the barn towards the woods, but little by little she got braver and braver and got closer and closer to the barn. She stays in the barn with the chickens all day long, she flies into their stall in the mornings. When I get home from work I open the stall door to let the chickens out to freerange and she comes right out with them. Right at dusk she goes into the woods to roost in the trees at night. We see her every morning coming back into the barn to spend the day. She has become quite trusting towards me and my husband, but if someone comes over she leaves and comes back when she sees them leave. We have named her November, and she is quite a character and has tons of personality. Here is a picture of her in the horse stall with the chickens.

 

[easttxchick]

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She's adorable.