Recieved a turkey.

[Mindys chicks]

So my husband's friend found a "chick" by the road. He took to to the feed store not knowing anything about them, asks for help to get appropriate stuff. The store employee says well it's a turkey.

 

[R2elk]

So my husband's friend found a "chick" by the road. He took to to the feed store not knowing anything about them, asks for help to get appropriate stuff. The store employee says well it's a turkey. Not able to return it to where he found it, he bought the supplies and went home. Needless to say I now have said turkey. It's a wild turkey mind you. So do I raise it with my RIR? I feel like I should get another for company. Or should I just get it old enough and let it go in the woods behind my house in hopes that perhaps a hen will adopt it?

The best thing that you can do is to contact your local game warden or DNR agent. Turn the poult over to them as soon as possible. You are in the illegal possession of a wild turkey poult. Do not try to keep it. Do not turn it loose in the woods or it will die without being back with its mother.

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

Wild turkeys are an invasive species in Iowa.
No, I'm kidding sort of.
Around here we have huge problems with them. They destroy crops, eat pheasant and quail eggs, they are territorial and run off those birds too. In towns here they assault people and cars. My brother's ex wife stopped the car so the turkeys could get safely across the road and they attacked her car! They scratched it up really bad, she said next time she'd just plow over them, lol.
I live in southern Iowa and its no big deal to see flocks of 25+ birds several times on a trip to town. (but it is a long drive)
And the hunting tags and license cost more than if you just go to the store and buy a frozen one.
This has nothing to do with your question, lol. I just felt like sharing.

 

[Mindys chicks]

Wild turkeys are an invasive species in Iowa.
No, I'm kidding sort of.
Around here we have huge problems with them. They destroy crops, eat pheasant and quail eggs, they are territorial and run off those birds too. In towns here they assault people and cars. My brother's ex wife stopped the car so the turkeys could get safely across the road and they attacked her car! They scratched it up really bad, she said next time she'd just plow over them, lol.
I live in southern Iowa and its no big deal to see flocks of 25+ birds several times on a trip to town. (but it is a long drive)
And the hunting tags and license cost more than if you just go to the store and buy a frozen one.
This has nothing to do with your question, lol. I just felt like sharing.

Yes, they are very mean creatures. I lived in SE Iowa my whole life up until about 4 years ago. And I am very well aware the cost of Iowa hunting tags as I hunted for years there. When I moved to PA and now OH the price of licensure and tags amazed me. It's a fraction of what Iowas fees are. Actually being a land owner in Ohio I don't have to purchase tags but I do anyways to help with the conservation of Ohio.

 

[N F C]

The Migratory Bird Treaty Act prohibits the taking, killing, capturing, transporting, harboring of the birds or hatching eggs, that which are Native to the United States of America. All are protected by state and federal agencies.

https://www.fws.gov/birds/policies-and-regulations/laws-legislations/migratory-bird-treaty-act.php

Any threads started on this subject will be closed.

Thank you for your understanding.

-BYC Staff