taming wild turkeys

[wild rescuer]

Do the wild turkeys that have been hand fed tame down like domestic fowl? I don't handle them since they have been eating on their own.This is my first wild turkeys I have had. I want to keep them wild so I can turn them loose this spring.

 

[ivan3]

If these were somehow "rescued", as little poults, and kept in run and provided commercial feed (though limiting human contact) what you have are pretty much domesticated - Easterns? By Spring they'll be very domesticated.

A Wild hen clues her poults about where and what to forage and when and what to run from/avoid. This "learning" is pretty much set in stone by a month of age. Imprinting on humans and/or being provided for by humans during that time (and past that time) pretty much makes them sitting ducks when "released", i.e., "domestics".

Something else to take into account is your State laws regarding holding/maintaining "Wilds" in captivity.,

If these are Domestic Easterns, purchased legally, then allowing those to "go free" is also releasing sitting ducks into predatorville.

 

[wild rescuer]

These chicks were not much older than 2 days, 3 at tops. We have alot of coyotes in the woods surrounding our house. We heard them kill something the night I found the first chick around sundown. The next day I found the other chick that ran out of the woods by out back yard.I never heard or saw anymore. We are going to find a nature center where they came be safe and people can see them.There are several state parks with nature centers in the state we live in.

 

[Hholly]

That sounds like a great idea if a nature center could take them to educate the public.

 

[wild rescuer]

That is what we thought would work out the best for them. They are so cute and our little chihuahua loves them. We tell her they are her chickens. They are alot of work but we will really miss them when they leave. Thanks for the reply.

 

[wild rescuer]

need help emergency; 9 wk old turkey broke its leg at the joint where the leg bends when they lay down . do i splint or not?. never have splinted anythings leg before. all help and info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks