Bourbon Red Turkeys AKA Animal Control (PICS AND STORY INCLUDED)

[Turkeytruff]

I always knew that my turkeys were a group of renegade cops but I never knew that they would take it to this level.

Well, this is my story.....................

Yesterday when I was home doing the chores in the chicken yard, I opened the guinea pen and stepped inside. As I was turning around to close the door, one of my guineas ran pass me and out of the guinea pen into the chicken yard. I stepped out of the guinea pen to see if I could get it to go back into the guinea pen. Well, that didn't work. The guinea took off and flew about 1/2 mile into the open field across the street. This guinea flew higher than my muscovy ducks. I was speechless. I immediately panicked. As I secured the guinea pen, I ran towards the field. Well, I look back and I see my turkey gang running behind me. I assumed that they saw the entire thing (NOSEY turkeys) and was running to see what was going on. Well, I made it over to the field and stopped not to scare the guinea away. Well my turkeys ran pass me and kept running towards the guinea. I just knew that the guinea would fly off again. The turkeys surrounded the guinea and wouldn't let the guinea out of the circle. I had no idea what was about to happen, so I ran back to the house to get the camera to get pics because I knew that this was going to be a good story to tell. I knew that the turkeys would not attack and kill the guinea because they are all talk (bunch of school yard bullies is what they are) and no action. I got the camera and ran back outside. By the time I got the camera and made it back outside, the guinea AND turkeys were back in the yard, so I assume the turkeys herded the guinea back into the yard. Well, the guinea tried to run off. This is when I started taking pics.

Below is the rest of the story with PICS. The pics tell it all.

And the chase begins

Onlookers wondering what in the world is going on.

Onlookers now know what is going on and are running for dear life. They want no part of this. Notice the ducks in background running for dear life.

A new group has tagged up and in the ring to continue the chase.

Turkeys surrounding the guinea to run it into the chicken yard.

Turkeys have herded the guinea into the chicken yard and ran it into a corner.

During the taking of these next 5 pictures, there is a lot of sounds, noises, screeching, gobbling and hearing every other sound you can imagine. It was a lot of back and forth as the turkeys took turns in the scare. The guinea is realizing that it has been caught and the chase is up. He is BUSTED.

This is the defense setup that got the guinea caught. Notice the turkey on the left at the bottom sneaking around to fill that hole to secure the circle so that the guinea can't get out.

Guinea Caught

Disclaimer: No animals were hurt in the taping of this video or taking of these pics.

I have to admit that I would have NEVER caught that guinea without those turkeys. I'm serious!!!! There would have been no way. That guinea would have continued to fly into the woods until it was long gone. My guineas ARE NOT tame. They are VERY WILD. The turkeys went into the open field and circled the guinea, brought it back home, chased him down until he was too tired to fly again, cornered him and then I stepped in with a net to catch him. They must know it's close to Thanksgiving and afraid that they will get cut from the team (literally)

. Just joking. I don't eat my turkeys. This bunch are definitely keepers!

I LOVE my turkeys.

I hope that you enjoyed my Turkey story.

I followed your link from the turkey 2013 forum. I LOVE this story haha!

I had 2 BB (standard) and still have 2 Narragansett boys and yes, this is just what they do - nosy, inquisitive, dogs with feathers on, keeping order in the yard... I am definitely getting more. I was interested that someone had BB's they felt were aggressive as mine were great. They did start having the odd scrap with each other sorting out their dominance but one in particular was a real pet, following me everywhere. I agree, if you raise them from poults they are fantastic. Do you still have this guinea???

Great story!!!! Turkeys are awesome arnt they

Mine are the best things that ever happened to me.

You are so right, they are fantastic!

Miss Lydia wrote: looks like that cat is in big trouble​

It is a game. The cat does its best to startle the turks. The turks yelp and leap and then take off after the cat. The cat has known nothing but chooks and turks since it was a tiny kitten - will roll around in the firepit, keeping them company while dirt bathing. If our turks ever saw a guinea they'd probably take an infarct on the spot. If our Black Sex Link `boss bird' so much as growls in their presence, all the turks move off smartly to a safe distance.
I love watching how animals interact with each other. We are so lucky to be able to observe them at play....
Quote:
Originally Posted by County Boy

Awesome story. Wish I had turkeys. Getting some in the fall for pets though.

I hope you did or do get turkeys, Country boy. You won't regret having them.

 

[kuntrygirl]

Turkeytruff, thanks for reading my story. Yes, I still have the guinea. I think the guinea is too afraid to run away. He keeps close close close within the parameters of the yard.

I agree with you in that turkeys are great. I raise my Bourbon Reds from hatch to adult, so there are no issues at all as far as bad behaviors. They are only aggressive when they have to scare off a predator (stray dog or crow) but other than that, they are no trouble at all. I love the Bourbon Reds. I can't see myself getting another breed after having these for so many years.

 

[Turkeytruff]

Yes I can see why - I would like to go for Bourbon Reds and / or Blue Slate and a Royal Palm just for the eye candy. I will have to look up here for some good breeders.

 

[frank53061]

I have red Bourbon Turkeys that are thieving Pigs My Turkeys for the most part get plenty of food more so recently.
I fill 5 gal, plastic buckets with snap on lids and keep them in the pen.
Well I had just filled one 5 Gal, bucket one night while tucking them in and the next morning my daughter fed them as she normally does.
I get home from work mid afternoon and let them out to free range and I find a bucket turned over and empty those feathered pigs had eaten 25lbs of feed.
The next day they barley touched there food they had stuffed them selves so much they were not hungry at all.
The next day after that they did not eat all there feed from the following day.

If there was a bloated Turkey ICON this were it would be

I thought this might be funny to some.

 

[Poultry Couture]

Cute story!

 

[Poultry Couture]

Cute story!

 

[Turkeytruff]

I have red Bourbon Turkeys that are thieving Pigs My Turkeys for the most part get plenty of food more so recently.
I fill 5 gal, plastic buckets with snap on lids and keep them in the pen.
Well I had just filled one 5 Gal, bucket one night while tucking them in and the next morning my daughter fed them as she normally does.
I get home from work mid afternoon and let them out to free range and I find a bucket turned over and empty those feathered pigs had eaten 25lbs of feed.
The next day they barley touched there food they had stuffed them selves so much they were not hungry at all.
The next day after that they did not eat all there feed from the following day.

If there was a bloated Turkey ICON this were it would be

I thought this might be funny to some.

haha! yes my Narragansett and BBs would inhale their fermented feed - they needed snorkels. Little piggies eh?

 

[trunkman]

Nice story Kuntrygirl, I hope the eggs I purchased from you hatch out to be interesting birds like their parents! Day 7 in the incubator and counting, added chicken eggs in the bator today.

 

[DavKarm]

That is so awesome! Way to go Turkeys.

 

[kuntrygirl]

Nice story Kuntrygirl, I hope the eggs I purchased from you hatch out to be interesting birds like their parents! Day 7 in the incubator and counting, added chicken eggs in the bator today.

 

I hope so too. Keep me posted!