Bourbon red hatch

[crazywiener]

Thank you kuntrygirl & Arielle..I think I will need to clip their wings because I do see coyotes even during the day. And they have a big house (& safe) to roost in at night. I actually watched a video on you tube, they even used BRs! And thank you for the buff info..I would say that is what's e are

 

[trunkman]

I am pleased with the little buggers, it was 85 out today so I decided to open up the brooder to see if the poults would go out and explore. Chicks usually don't want to explore much when they are just 11 days old. Well the poults were out in about a half hour exploring and chasing bugs and having a good ole time and nipping at those long green thingys we call grass. They are such characters, they didn't want to go back into the brooder so I had to nudge them in, they acted like, do we have to go to bed now?? One of the Easter Egger chicks even came out and started dust bathing, I've never seen a chick do that at 11 days old, those poults are teaching those chicks how to enjoy life!!

 

[Arielle]

Thank you kuntrygirl & Arielle..I think I will need to clip their wings because I do see coyotes even during the day. And they have a big house (& safe) to roost in at night. I actually watched a video on you tube, they even used BRs! And thank you for the buff info..I would say that is what's e are

You didn't mention whether or not you have a dog. Walking a dog around the perimieter of the turkey area and your property line in general helps to keep out the coyote. They want easy food, not food that comes with another dog protecting it's territory.

 

[crazywiener]

Well we sort of have dogs..dachshunds..lol they are indoor dogs/ FRONT yard dogs

 

[RoosterJosh]

Thanks. Yes, mine do fly but they fly around in the yard when they are acting silly and want to show off their flying skills to make others jealous.

My fence is 5 feet high and they clear that easily. I have many of them that sleep on the 8 foot chicken coop and in the pecan trees. Mine fly across the fence from the chicken yard into the human yard to walk around and eat the human yard grass. When they are done free ranging in the human yard, they simply fly back over. NEVER in all of the years of me raising turkeys have EVER had a turkey to fly away or run off. And I mean NEVER ! And I don't clip wings.

I would hesitate about following what most feed stores tell you to do.

They are only there to sell feed and other products and their knowledge about animals is limited.

Do you have any problems with overhead preadtors like hawks and such?

 

[kuntrygirl]

Thanks. Yes, mine do fly but they fly around in the yard when they are acting silly and want to show off their flying skills to make others jealous. My fence is 5 feet high and they clear that easily. I have many of them that sleep on the 8 foot chicken coop and in the pecan trees. Mine fly across the fence from the chicken yard into the human yard to walk around and eat the human yard grass. When they are done free ranging in the human yard, they simply fly back over. NEVER in all of the years of me raising turkeys have EVER had a turkey to fly away or run off. And I mean NEVER ! And I don't clip wings.


I would hesitate about following what most feed stores tell you to do. They are only there to sell feed and other products and their knowledge about animals is limited.

Do you have any problems with overhead preadtors like hawks and such?

No predator problems. I have seen hawks but none have tried to attack. In fact, I have witnessed my turkeys run off crows that were stealing my eggs. I also think that my geese (Satan's Army) helps with overhead predators. And you would have to know my geese to know that they can go up against Freddy Kreuger, Jason, Chuckie The Doll AND the demonic spirit from The Exorcist.

 

[crazywiener]

Yes, hawks, owls, falcons

 

[Arielle]

Well we sort of have dogs..dachshunds..lol they are indoor dogs/ FRONT yard dogs

Coyotes don't know what size your dogs are-- if they smell a local dog they usually steer clear. I would use your little dogs to help out. Usually pee is the common communication method.

Here the coyote walk right by the fenced in front yard looking at my dogs on the other side of the fence!! My rotties are bigger than the coyote! But the smartie pants know that fence will hold my dogs.

 

[RoosterJosh]

Just wondering about overhead fence. How concerned should I be about the turkeys in a pen without a top from flying predators? I'm not home much on weekdays so I need an area thats safe for them to forage during the day while I'm away. Any suggestions or thoughts? I have owls, hawks, and vultures constantly overhead. I live in rural south central Wisconsin BTW.

 

[Arielle]

Just wondering about overhead fence. How concerned should I be about the turkeys in a pen without a top from flying predators? I'm not home much on weekdays so I need an area thats safe for them to forage during the day while I'm away. Any suggestions or thoughts? I have owls, hawks, and vultures constantly overhead. I live in rural south central Wisconsin BTW.

Welcome to BYC!!

I have hawks here and one owl which I enjoy hearing--he has lived here about as long as we have. Hawks try for my fill sized chickens, and I expect they would also go for chicks. But they have not attacked my full sized turkeys.

Heck the hawk coudn't take off with the hen. ( We disturbed him before he got the reward of a bite to eat, adn shoo'd him on his way.)

Size of the fowl is a factor. THe hawks know when a bird is too big to be worth the effort.

Also hawks can be seasonal. In the fall after the young are deserted they are hungry and unskilled enough to try anything. Seasoned hawks usually go for wild sources; and parent hawks hunt a lot to feed everyone but we are not bothered by them as they are good hunters and we are surrounded by plenty of wildlife for them to utilize for feed for the baby hawks.

Sorry for the awkward answer. LEarn your area-- and that will come with time. What works for me might not work for you. I can only offer what has worked for me.