large turkey tom carcass found outside of pen -- so upsetting!

[mikeksfarmer]

I think there are enough regulars here that know predators and their ways we could all help with problem solving if people would develope a plan to examine poultry kills in the future.
Here are some ideas; Take pictures most people have a digital cammera today. " CSI" Get the whole picture the kill, the cage and the spread of the remains. Then get some pics of the damage to the animal. When reporting include time of day, how much was eaten. weather the bird was dragged or eaten on the spot. I am sure there is more. The more you know about the kill and the site the easier it will be to slove it. If you solve it you can correct for the preditor. This preditor drug a 12 pound turkey through a 3 " hole against the ground. Racoons eat it where they catch it. Bob cats go over so do Coyotes. Raccoon or Martin? Just some ideas.
Can you shed up the turkeys at night for a while and then let them out in the day? Might help.

 

[chickenannie]

That's a good idea, although a bit gross/morbid, now that I'm having my first predator problem, I'm realizing how hard it is to solve. Knowing who the predator is, is so very helpful to stopping it.

I've had the birds locked up in a coophoop covered by a tarp weighted down around the edges for 5 nights and they've all stayed safe. They're getting used to the evening "round-up" so it's been getting easier to herd them in, but it still takes me a lot of time because I have to set up a bit of curved wire fencing to "guide" the whole flock into the narrow door. Today one laid an egg in there, so I guess that's a good sign that it's getting less stressful to the birds to be in a small space at night.

Problem is, i'm not always going to be around at sunset to do this. so the fencing has to be completed next week.

 

[the1much]

its easy,,,, shoot em all ,, god will sort em out hahha

 

[chickenannie]

Just wanted to post that none of my turkeys have been attacked since I've started locking them up at night. Yay.

Plus, I'm so proud of the little baby turkeys -- mom has started teaching them to fly high into the big yard tree at night, where they're safe from foxes.

The first night she tried to coax them up to the tree, they couldn't fly high enough (missed the branches). The next night, two of them made it up, but one fell down after a while and I had to put it in the henhouse for the night. But last night, they all four made it up to the top of the tree. Well, one ended up sleeping on the garage roof -- somehow missed the tree branch but flew on to the rooftop.

I'm so proud of them! And, it's wonderful to watch them "grow into" their wings. The can really fly!

 

[the1much]

WOOOOOOHOOOOOOOooooo

 

[chickenannie]

thanks hippy jim, woohoo! I would love to video these young turkeys flying and trying out their "wings". The one on the garage roof flew a good 40 yards and landed smoothly on the rooftop. It's like watching a teenager graduate!

 

[willheveland]

Quote:
that goes to prove moms know best. Will