Plus 1, a new arrival just showed up, not a rooster

[RWise]

I'm curious as to how a little found its way to you. That's amazing. Lucky little thing. Could have come to an early end out there on its own.

With all the predators about, I was surprised myself, and safety is why it and the other are in the pad.

I am hoping they will be friends and I can put both in the coop in a few weeks.

 

[RWise]

I was watching them as the sun was going down. The chick wants this turkey to get on the top roost with it. It would jump 3 feet to this roost, then down and around on top of the bucket and on to the roost "like this". The little turkey was not wanting to make that jump. So I added another roost in between them and it got up there! (after a few tries)

Any thoughts on how young this little may be? It is not fully feathered yet, but it already looks better. The chick is 6 weeks and has been on the roost for 5 weeks..

 

[aart]

Any thoughts on how young this little may be?

I would guess no more than a few weeks...
@oldhenlikesdogs would probably know, she has turkeys.

 

[RWise]

It is feathering well on the high protein feed, and looking much better than it did when it showed up.

2-3 weeks is my guess as to its age, but I have never had turkeys,,,,

 

[RWise]

A question would be what are the chances of these two becoming friends and being able to put the pair in the flock of chickens?

I hate when things work out bad and I get only 1 chick,,

 

[RWise]

Well a few days ago I found where the turkey came from. Its owner told me his dog attacked and killed the rest, and he thought this one bought it also, until they spotted it in my yard. This is also my worst neighbor, he offered $5 for the feed it had eaten and I accepted it. He took his bird home, and I told him good luck keeping it there.
He noticed and commented on how this little turkey had bonded to me, came right to me when I called it (I call it chirp). He said he would keep the name. It is bonded with my flock and feels safe here, and the chick was lost for a few days, but now is playing Momma to the younger chicks. She does not tidbit for them, but they now hang together and follow the slightly older chick.
But,,,
It's back, now what do I do? He said he did not know what he would do if it came back. I feel like I should not feed it, but I know it really needs a high protein diet (at this young age) and cant stand for it to be hungry and telling me about it. I had been letting it into the "yard" (no poo zone) and giving it a high protein feed,which it luvs!
ARRGGGG!!!

 

[aart]

This is also my worst neighbor, he offered $5 for the feed it had eaten and I accepted it.

Well, at least they did that.
Not sure what you should do.
Maybe take it back to him and say if it shows up again he can't have it back?
Does he have other birds?
How far away is he?

 

[Chickassan]

I'd keep it. The rest of them were killed and it keeps coming back to you. Don't look a gift turkey in the mouth.

 

[bobbi-j]

I feel that morally, since you know where it belongs, you need to notify the owner. It would be stealing to just keep it. Maybe you could offer to buy it from them if you really want to keep it.

 

[Mrs. K]

I agree with Bobbie. Either offer to buy it, or take it back, again and again. Just cause the turkey likes you best, it is not your turkey.