Guard Turkey?

[Mamahenning10]

We have 28 hens about 4 5 months old now and 2 guineas (did have 3 but one was tree perching and got snatched at night by a predator) & 2 turkeys. We added our 2 bantam and the 2 turkey chicks to our 26 chicks a couple weeks later so we kept them separate for a couple weeks in same brooder, and now they are all about the same age I have to be the odd guy out and say my turkeys are the keepers of the peace. We have 7.5 acres and we free range only, after about 4 months, and our turkeys definitely protect out flock. They keep the pecking order where it needs to be never are there hardly any squabble's! I am admittedly in love with the Turks as they are like puppies and love their humans but they are fun to have around and they are especially good at watching their Banty babies. They perch beside them at night they run under them outside they never let them get picked on and they are the only 2 out of 32 that at smaller. We are raising 6 more to make them company but with the Turks idk if they even need it. Haha.

The guinea's stay close to the flock but this thread has me questioning getting more. Hubby didn't want them due to noise but they don't bother us at all honestly. They're not friendly at all but they are in the roost every night.

Old post I know but I had to chime in with how awesome our turkey's are

 

[Mamahenning10]

Apparently I have a guard Turkey! I just heard a turkey "ruckus" in the yard I had not heard before. I ran out and a bobcat had one of my chickens and my 6 month old Tom was giving him hell while the rest of the mixed flock hid in the corner! I know he couldn't have fought him off but he sure gave me warning enough to scare the **** out of the bobcat and scare him off without his dinner! Good boy Teddy turkey!

Go Ted! Ours are something fierce as well!

 

[RobinW161209]

Wow, that's awesome! I was thinking of getting a pair, but maybe a bunch of them would be better.

I am told by everyone that they're very "talkative".

 

[RobinW161209]

We have eight...and OMG..loud..YES. And because they are all in separate runs, except the ones we have paired up right now for breeding, when one starts...they all start. Like a competition between them to see who can be the loudest and go the longest!!!

I can't that is hilarious.

 

[Turkey parents]

My turkeys are protective of their flock unfortunately my chickens are not part of that flock and with good reason as chickens carry parasites that turkeys are susceptible to. We however are part of that flock and our Turkeys will bark, chirp, purr, cluck, twill, and whatever other noises they can come up with when a stranger enters our yard. They are better for human intruders than predators