Sad Day, My Turkey Was Killed. Questions..............

[melanie]

Very sad day for me. Just started letting my wild turkey free-range about 2 weeks ago from the 30x15 pen into the fenced back yard. The back yard/garden is dog-proof, however today, my turkey hopped over the fence about an hour before sunset. It was very windy today and I'm kicking myself for not putting her in the pen earlier. We have 4 dogs 3 are chicken friendly but the 4th one I don't like got her. I got so attached to her. She was hatched by a chicken hen as the nest was destroyed by equipment here on the ranch. It was a miracle she even hatched. I know people say don't run a turkey with chicken but I've done and know people who have no problems. Cayenne pepper is a blackhead preventative. Anyway, I am determined to get one or two more. My question is what kind should I get, and will they be as flighty as a true wild turkey? I don't want a white domestic turkey....want a pet that will live longer than a year or two. I would appreciate your thoughts. Also what I can do to prevent it.
Thanks!!!

 

[Pumpkinpup]

Contact Porter's Rare Heritage Turkeys.
[email protected]
Mr. Porter has alot of different breeds and has the nicest birds I have seen anywhere. I highly recommend the Naraganset and Sweetgrass or Slates. They are all quite beautiful and make good farm birds

So sorry to hear about your special girl

 

[spook]

Well, I just picked up 2 Narragansett turkey's from Othala Acres (New Hampshire and Lily is a BYCer) and these guys appear to be friendly, they say that they are calmer then most. These guys traveled well, 31/2 hours home after we picked them up. Yes they are full grown, but that is great for me.
Very social and will "talk" to you! I am shocked at how they watch and realize that I am the food wagon!
I have not gotten any photos of these 2 yet, but here is the link to Othala Acres http://www.othalaacres.com/ you will find photos of the type of turkeys that we have, and they do look a lot like your baby.
I hope I've helped out, I'm soooo sorry to hear of your loss, its a tough time of year for everyone without dealing with loosing your sweet baby.
You take care and only think of the good that you have given and received !!!
~Kel

 

[Blueroo63]

Robin,
i'm so very sorry to hear about your poor turkey,and I feel for you
it's so hard to loss your love ones to a love one

I sire hope you can find you some new babies soon even thought it never the same God Bless hope you feel better soon

 

[Barry]

Sorry you lost your wild turkey.
I think you were real lucky to hatch one in the first place.
I am not a turkey expert, but I would choose a wild one over any domestic breed. They are real aware in the wild, but too much human contact makes them let their guard down. They can fly really well. That is good or bad depending on your location and circumstances. If only your fenced yard is safe...that is a bad thing.
I found an injured wild turkey that was hit by a car, I could not save her but spent 2 days trying.

 

[kees]

I'm sorry for the loss of your turkey.

Suzy

 

[melanie]

Thank you everyone. I am kicking myself but can't undo anything. She was not afraid of dogs at all; didn't know to get away from her predator. The backyard fence where they free-range is 4ft high. The fence in their pen is 10 ft high. Both are dog proof. However, she jumped the 4ft fence...wind made her nervous and it was hour to sundown. How high a fence do I need to free-range turkeys with my chickens? Is another breed less likely to hop the fence than the wild one? She wouldn't let me pet her, as she didn't imprint on me. She spent the first month in a cage with a chicken. A women hatched her out for me. She got more gentle and would come to me with the chickens. The hopping over the fence has me worried about a wild turkey. Thanks. Appreciate you ideas/suggestions.

Here is a beautiful picture of her:

http://www.wilfongbuckingbulls.com/Videos/melaniehome.html

 

[Harp Turkey Ranch]

She wouldn't let me pet her, as she didn't imprint on me.

Wilds don't ever get as friendly as standard turkeys do.

The backyard fence where they free-range is 4ft high.

Our outside perimeter fence is 4 ft and the turkeys stay in fairly well. The hens do go over, but usually only at the point where they can fly up to land on something then they go over. Very rarely do they just jump/fly over the fence with out landing on something first. So the first thing to do is eliminate all of those points and then they should stay in. We also start clipping the wings of the flighty ones early soon as they start to fly 4 weeks or so. Then keep them clipped all the time and by about 3-4 months they seem to have forgotten they can fly and they don't very much. we raise a few hundred a year and we don't have a big problem with them flying over, but they do and will.​

 

[melanie]

Well thank you, you answered my question. Part of the fence has a rail she landed on first. Also, I clipped her wings early on but she could easily hop onto that rail. I can put some wire fence over that portion and raise it. Her wings had grown out as it was too traumatic on her each time I clipped her wings.

 

[Struttn1]

Sorry you lost your pet but if I were you I would lose another one. Get rid of the poultry killer one way or another. I will not tolerate a turkey killing mutt around my place.