Turkey coop/run/pen requirements? Help!

[BreanneRN]

I suggest that the OP wait to find out if they have a "Sam" or a "Samantha" pet turkey before making companionship decisions... Unless they can find a companion that is the same age and size as "Sam". And do a forum search for "turkey housing"... Perhaps they can find a nice Midget White of comparable age...

 

[ephiemarie]

Again, thank you for your replies here.

Yes, until today I fully believed Sam was a pheasant. It wasn’t until I saw a turkey hen with babies crossing the road that I noticed the distinct similarities and consulted Google. This whole time I have thought the little bump on his nose was a weird growth.

I should have mentioned in my original post...on Sunday I allowed Sam a couple hours in his outdoor flight pen (because I believed him to be a pheasant and thought I was supposed to be doing so, as the plan had been to release him at 16 weeks to the wild). Anyhow, while in the pen, he was either attacked or somehow got caught up on something and lost a 1” x 1.5” hunk of flesh off his upper back. I thought for sure he was going to die, but I’ve been caring for his wound and trying to prevent infection, and he seems to be healing well and still growing.

So not only do I have an illegal wild pheasant who is actually a turkey, but he (or she?) is injured as well. I checked for DNR sanctioned wildlife rehab centers in a 3-hour driving radius around here and found nothing that will accept turkeys. Sam is here to stay I guess.

 

[BreanneRN]

Again, thank you for your replies here.

Yes, until today I fully believed Sam was a pheasant. It wasn’t until I saw a turkey hen with babies crossing the road that I noticed the distinct similarities and consulted Google. This whole time I have thought the little bump on his nose was a weird growth.

I should have mentioned in my original post...on Sunday I allowed Sam a couple hours in his outdoor flight pen (because I believed him to be a pheasant and thought I was supposed to be doing so, as the plan had been to release him at 16 weeks to the wild). Anyhow, while in the pen, he was either attacked or somehow got caught up on something and lost a 1” x 1.5” hunk of flesh off his upper back. I thought for sure he was going to die, but I’ve been caring for his wound and trying to prevent infection, and he seems to be healing well and still growing.

So not only do I have an illegal wild pheasant who is actually a turkey, but he (or she?) is injured as well. I checked for DNR sanctioned wildlife rehab centers in a 3-hour driving radius around here and found nothing that will accept turkeys. Sam is here to stay I guess.

He looks like a fine pet turkey to me... Good sized for 3 weeks, too. A nice bronze. It will be monhs before you will know if male or female. Really is cute and looks very tame...

 

[R2elk]

I suggest that the OP wait to find out if they have a "Sam" or a "Samantha" pet turkey before making companionship decisions... Unless they can find a companion that is the same age and size as "Sam". And do a forum search for "turkey housing"... Perhaps they can find a nice Midget White of comparable age...

The proper thing to do is to turn it over to the DNR. The smart thing to do is to not post about their illegal act on a public forum.

 

[ephiemarie]

Noted. I have this creature’s best interest at heart and was only seeking advice on how to keep him alive. Seeing as there are no DNR rehabilitation

The proper thing to do is to turn it over to the DNR. The smart thing to do is to not post about their illegal act on a public forum.

resources available where I live, I’ll quietly and anonymously go back to consulting Google for tips. I’m willing to risk paying a fine to prevent this turkey from being killed or hunted.

And for the record, I’m not stupid and resent the implication. I thought this was a community of poultry-lovers, and that’s why I sought advice here.