Turkey left home and joined my flock.

[The Good Grumble]

My neighbors had Spanish cross turkeys for years. I loved to hear the gobbles every day. They lost their flock to coyotes and had one solo hen left. (5 years old) she came down and started hanging around my chicken flock. I haven’t wanted her to get eaten at night so I caught her a couple times to be safe. I’ve walked her home more than once and she comes right back. Neighbors asked if I wanted her. She seems to want to be here anyway. She’s 5. Really likes my rooster and chickens and has been happily spending her days with them. I can sometimes get her in the run at night. But she vastly prefers being 10’ up on the run roof. Which is fine except we had big storms last night. We tried to get her down but she wasn’t having any of it. She did fine. We put cameras higher up to keep an eye on her. (She sleeps like a weirdo with her head dangling lol)

My question is this. Does she absolutely need another Turk? She’s 5 almost 6. I don’t think my coop / run is big enough for my flock and more turkeys for the winter time. Currently she free ranges. They all get along very well and she doesn’t stray far from the girls. She just hangs out and doesn’t mind my presence. I love her little chirps.

Also my flock eats grower crumble (since I have roosters) do I need something different for her? Neighbors just gave scratch & a handful of pellets. She’s always free ranged.

 

[R2elk]

My neighbors had Spanish cross turkeys for years. I loved to hear the gobbles every day. They lost their flock to coyotes and had one solo hen left. (5 years old) she came down and started hanging around my chicken flock. I haven’t wanted her to get eaten at night so I caught her a couple times to be safe. I’ve walked her home more than once and she comes right back. Neighbors asked if I wanted her. She seems to want to be here anyway. She’s 5. Really likes my rooster and chickens and has been happily spending her days with them. I can sometimes get her in the run at night. But she vastly prefers being 10’ up on the run roof. Which is fine except we had big storms last night. We tried to get her down but she wasn’t having any of it. She did fine. We put cameras higher up to keep an eye on her. (She sleeps like a weirdo with her head dangling lol)

My question is this. Does she absolutely need another Turk? She’s 5 almost 6. I don’t think my coop / run is big enough for my flock and more turkeys for the winter time. Currently she free ranges. They all get along very well and she doesn’t stray far from the girls. She just hangs out and doesn’t mind my presence. I love her little chirps.

Also my flock eats grower crumble (since I have roosters) do I need something different for her? Neighbors just gave scratch & a handful of pellets. She’s always free ranged.

It would be best if you could add another hen turkey for companionship for her. Don't worry about her sleeping outside because of weather but she could be vulnerable to predators such as Great Horned owls or raccoons.

She will be fine sleeping outside in the winter. My turkeys roost outside all year long in all kinds of weather.

The all flock type feed is fiine for her and much better for her than scratch. I assume you have oyster shell free choice for the laying hens.

 

[The Good Grumble]

It would be best if you could add another hen turkey for companionship for her. Don't worry about her sleeping outside because of weather but she could be vulnerable to predators such as Great Horned owls or raccoons.

She will be fine sleeping outside in the winter. My turkeys roost outside all year long in all kinds of weather.

The all flock type feed is fiine for her and much better for her than scratch. I assume you have oyster shell free choice for the laying hens.

Yeah oyster shell and grit, I have two separate flocks….just added another 8. (Laying and Bantam)

Are there turkeys on the smaller side? I just worry about room. She absolutely prefers to just mill around with the girls. Winters get to -25+ and we had about 40” or snow snow on the ground. I end up with tunnels to the coop.

I’d get another hen but she’s gotta be small and my guess I need her older right? They’re pets. So ultimately freeloaders.

I am constantly watching her. She’s just so sweet. Odd she’d just up and move from her home to my place. But she’s content and happy. She roosts at night way up.