Consolidated Kansas

[tazcat70]

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We're getting too many of them around here too. In the winter when they flock up there can be hundreds of them together.

Wow! I bet that is quite a sight.

 

[justinwrites]

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Lots.

Where does one even begin? Other than a safety course that is. Favorite instrument of turkey termination?

 

[ByN8ureHomstead]

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What happen in May?

 

[justinwrites]

I graduated! I'm a late bloomer, but I finally finished my degree and didn't have to drive to Topeka and back every day. A lot of time I was going 2 or more times a day just depending on work and my son's schedule that day.

 

[chicken danz]

Hey I was in my late forties before I finally got dual degrees. My sons and I were all in college at the same time. I think it's admirable for anyone to go back to school. If I say so myself. I had to learn to study all over again.
As far as the turkeys go, we had lots around here until about 4 summers ago when it flooded really bad. It killed out all the local ones. They are just starting to rebuild. The thing about breeding wilds is that you can sell the babies to be put on hunting reserves. I have a guy now that buys all of my excess pheasants for that. I am sure he would want turkeys. He raises his own quail.
I think I could use these birds as breeders. Since I've had them in captivity since birth they wouldn't know how to hunt or find food on their own. Of course I don't have a clue yet as to how many males and females I have.
They were hatched back in June if I remember right. They won't be big enough for Thanksgiving. I think being confined has probably slowed their growth rate a little. But they should be just right for breeding next spring.

 

[chicken danz]

I just had a hawk try to come in and steal some young birds. Thank goodness for the guineas and the roosters raising a ruckus. It woke the dogs up. I just took a bunch of young birds out of the brooder yesterday so they are all great bait for things like Hawks and Owls. They are free ranging during the day so they weren't in a covered pen for now.

 

[ChooksChick]

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You need a peacock! Hawks and owls are terrified of them.

 

[justinwrites]

Peacock really? Now that's funny. I had a hawk hanging around for a couple of days. Dove in and my dog beat it there. My dog was disappointed that it got a way.

 

[Ivywoods]

My thoughts exactly. Peacock? Really? We had some before we moved. They were sure fun to watch. The goofy things would wander some, though. They would also come up on the porch where we fed our cats and eat the cat food. Then they would proceed to leave a poop trail that was.....well....rather large and RED from all the cat food!

I enjoyed them anyway.

I've been reluctant to get any since we moved here. I didn't want them to wander down and take up residence in our neighbor's barn or something. If they decide to make a shop or shed their home, any machinery better look out below! I don't know. We have an old wooden barn that is beyond repair. It has lots of high rafters, and maybe they would roost in there. I wouldn't mind that because we are going to tear it down someday. Just so long as they wouldn't decide to roost over the hay or something.

We do have lots of hawks, owls, and even eagles in the winter. We are surrounded by corn and soybean fields, so of course there are plenty of field mice for them to live on. I'm sure that's why we have so many. I'm also pretty sure it was a hawk or more likely an owl that swooped in and killed my guinea hen. It was on one of those record hot days, and the dogs were probably sleeping some place cool.

 

[chicken danz]

Yeah my dogs do an excellent job of protecting the place but they were both asleep until the guineas started yelling. Nope going to have to say no to the peacock idea. I hate the noise they make during mating season.
That is the first hawk I've had come in here. We used to have owl problems until I got my dogs. An owl actually took a small white cat I had.