Do turkeys hide objects?

[fat brown hen]

Odd question, but I'm in a tough situation. I was rebuilding a carburetor on the patio table, and left a ziploc bag of nuts/bolts/screws outside after I went home. The next morning I saw a couple of turkeys walking on the table and thought nothing of it, but when I went out I discovered the bag on the ground, empty. My work gloves were also missing from the table.

I searched all over the yard and combed the dirt with a magnetic wand. I found one glove in the middle of the yard and one washer next to the table, but the rest of my stuff is nowhere to be found.

Did my turkeys eat a bag of hardware and a leather glove, or is it possible that they stashed my stuff somewhere? I already raked through their crap for the missing items, but so far nothing.

 

[R2elk]

Odd question, but I'm in a tough situation. I was rebuilding a carburetor on the patio table, and left a ziploc bag of nuts/bolts/screws outside after I went home. The next morning I saw a couple of turkeys walking on the table and thought nothing of it, but when I went out I discovered the bag on the ground, empty. My work gloves were also missing from the table.

I searched all over the yard and combed the dirt with a magnetic wand. I found one glove in the middle of the yard and one washer next to the table, but the rest of my stuff is nowhere to be found.

Did my turkeys eat a bag of hardware and a leather glove, or is it possible that they stashed my stuff somewhere? I already raked through their crap for the missing items, but so far nothing.

It is very likely they ate the small parts. The leather glove is probably lying wherever they dropped it after playing "take/keep away" with it.

 

[Molpet]

Odd question, but I'm in a tough situation. I was rebuilding a carburetor on the patio table, and left a ziploc bag of nuts/bolts/screws outside after I went home. The next morning I saw a couple of turkeys walking on the table and thought nothing of it, but when I went out I discovered the bag on the ground, empty. My work gloves were also missing from the table.

I searched all over the yard and combed the dirt with a magnetic wand. I found one glove in the middle of the yard and one washer next to the table, but the rest of my stuff is nowhere to be found.

Did my turkeys eat a bag of hardware and a leather glove, or is it possible that they stashed my stuff somewhere? I already raked through their crap for the missing items, but so far nothing.

they eat shinny things and it takes a long time ,if ever, to come out. Heavy metals can leach out and items can get stuck. It's so common it is called hardware disease. It is common in other livestock too.

I had the turkeys steal a small red handle pocket size screwdriver. I found it a couple years later under a blackberry bush.

 

[fat brown hen]

It is very likely they ate the small parts. The leather glove is probably lying wherever they dropped it after playing "take/keep away" with it.

Not Good I was hoping that my missing stuff might be safely cached in a hole somewhere. Had a pet ferret who used to do that.

 

[R2elk]

Not Good I was hoping that my missing stuff might be safely cached in a hole somewhere. Had a pet ferret who used to do that.

About the only thing turkeys try to hide is their nests. Anything else gets eaten or dropped wherever.

 

[fat brown hen]

I wonder if it would work to rent a metal detector to figure out which turkey ate my parts.

 

[R2elk]

A vet should be able to detect it with an X-ray.

 

[fat brown hen]

A vet should be able to detect it with an X-ray.

Not sure of the culprit, and there are too many suspects to bring to the vet. I'm something of a neat freak, and it drives me crazy to think there might be bolts and screws scattered all over the yard. Or, in the process of being scattered as the turkey craps them out one by one.

I found my other glove hidden in some weeds, so at least they didn't eat that.

 

[MrsNorthie]

Odd question, but I'm in a tough situation. I was rebuilding a carburetor on the patio table, and left a ziploc bag of nuts/bolts/screws outside after I went home. The next morning I saw a couple of turkeys walking on the table and thought nothing of it, but when I went out I discovered the bag on the ground, empty. My work gloves were also missing from the table.

I searched all over the yard and combed the dirt with a magnetic wand. I found one glove in the middle of the yard and one washer next to the table, but the rest of my stuff is nowhere to be found.

Did my turkeys eat a bag of hardware and a leather glove, or is it possible that they stashed my stuff somewhere? I already raked through their crap for the missing items, but so far nothing.

Thank you for posting this! We are in the process of fencing in the entire property and giving all the birds full access and this is a great reminder that we can't leave anything laying around.