Midget Whites and Predators

[UNCLEG]

OK, finally convinced myself I can butcher a bird, getting a few meat chickens to start and from there want to move to turkeys. I like the size and everything I read about the midget whites...question is predator protection....what is required for turkeys, particularly MWs? I have about an acre maybe a little more, of wooded land for them to free range on....currently not fenced. My chickens are in fortress pens because of predators....is the same necessary for MW tukeys? We have neighbor dogs, foxes, coyotes, bobcats, possums, racoons, wild hogs, and the occasional black bear.


Just want to get my ducks in a row or should I say turkeys in a row.

Thanx,

G

 

[BeccaOH]

I don't have the Midget Whites (yet). I've admired them, but I would keep them fenced if I do get them. I did have Bourbon Reds, which are a heavier bodied turkey. My hens liked to jump fence and free-range themselves. I lost 2 hens to fox. So I sold the ones that remained and planned to do higher fence when and if I do turkey again. Turkey free-ranging with toms in the flock may be better protected, but I really wouldn't chance it. I also have to worry about my domestic flock getting mixed in with the wild turkey in my area, which would not be good.

 

[2buckskins]

I don't have a lot of experience, but will share what I've been through since getting my MW's...

I have 5 fenced acres (5 foot high fence) and started with 3 Midget whites- 1 tom, 2 hens- all around 1 year old. I have slowly lost all but one hen to a coyote or a stray dog. One time the birds left (they could fly over my 5 foot fence) the yard and the tom never came back, the second time a coyote came into our fenced yard and nabbed a hen. Our remaining hen is now cooped with the chickens at night, but we leave our Bullmastiff out all night in the summer for extra protection. Maybe if I had raised them from chicks they wouldn't have wandered off our property, but I don't know.

While all 3 were around they were great birds! Our tom was super friendly, and both the hens were too. Our remaining hen is very easy going and will come up to the back door and say Hi occasionally. I'm hatching some MW eggs in the bator right now so we can have some more, I just really hope I don't lose them all again! I really like them and I highly recommend them, but being all white they are easy for predators to spot, and mine even with a fence did wander a little bit, so maybe you would have to give them a fortress too....

Good luck!!