Turkeys and Electric Netting

[Molpet]

Speaking of predators, my 8 week old poults are still in an 8' x 12' coop at night and allowed outside in a covered run during the day. I am planning on pasturing them sometime around Labor Day. But I am a little concerned because we have the usual predators in Southside Virginia including coyotes, foxes, raccoons, skunks, opossums and weasels. And just last week, when I went out to shut the coop at dark, there was what I believe to be a Great Horned owl sitting up in a tree about 20 feet from their enclosure. I actually worry the most about it due to its sheer size.

I loose a lot of turkeys to GH owl. Size doesn't matter. My breeding tom was snached off a limb Dec 1st a few years ago. The only talon marks were on his neck and a bit of neck was eaten, about the size of my thumb. His shoulder was broken where he hit the ground.
8 yr old hen got it this spring.. they ate/took the whole left side. Leg quarter cut off at the joint better than I can do.
If they ever have a season on raptors I would take advantage of it, until then I'll share.

 

[Berd Man]

those have all been eliminated this week.
I have a stupid neighbor who was feeding . When they went to their cabin for covid the hungry hoard descended.
I have caught town folk in my side drive with empty trap. Saying they didn't see the house behind the trees or the no trespassing signs they were parked in front of.
I'm up to over a hundred racoons

Molpet, you are in an all out war then. I feel for you. Hunker down and keep at it!

 

[Chicken Heel]

Those owls can take cats so poultry are easy work. You still have a month and they’re 8 weeks now so hopefully they’ll get bigger by then but I’d still be careful especially at night, lock them in. Mine have been outdoors uncovered since week 4, but every night they’re locked in behind electric.

Yes, they will be locked up at night in a 12' x 20' shelter. Interesting that you mention cats as I have had several go missing over the past few years.

 

[Chicken Heel]

I loose a lot of turkeys to GH owl. Size doesn't matter. My breeding tom was snached off a limb Dec 1st a few years ago. The only talon marks were on his neck and a bit of neck was eaten, about the size of my thumb. His shoulder was broken where he hit the ground.
8 yr old hen got it this spring.. they ate/took the whole left side. Leg quarter cut off at the joint better than I can do.
If they ever have a season on raptors I would take advantage of it, until then I'll share.

As I suspected given the GHO size... had/has to be hard for you when it happens.

 

[R2elk]

they will be locked up at night in a 12' x 20" shelter.

I hope you mean 12' x 20'. 20" would be really narrow.

 

[Chicken Heel]

I hope you mean 12' x 20'. 20" would be really narrow.

Yes it would... I corrected it. Thanks.

 

[Molpet]

As I suspected given the GHO size... had/has to be hard for you when it happens.

I knew the risks when I decided to keep them somewhat free range. It's always sad but worse when it's the older birds I have a relationship with.
I would rather have the owls get them than the mammal predators. Usually it's cool out when GHO take adults....and I find them before rigor mortis has set. They usually just damage eat the head and neck. Most of the time when I skin them out there's not any holes in the meat. So I get a few meals anyway. The poults just disappear or I find feet or wing under a tree or telephone pole.
When the mammals get one they bite the meat they don't eat and I don't get much if any usable.

 

[Chicken Heel]

I knew the risks when I decided to keep them somewhat free range. It's always sad but worse when it's the older birds I have a relationship with.
I would rather have the owls get them than the mammal predators. Usually it's cool out when GHO take adults....and I find them before rigor mortis has set. They usually just damage eat the head and neck. Most of the time when I skin them out there's not any holes in the meat. So I get a few meals anyway. The poults just disappear or I find feet or wing under a tree or telephone pole.
When the mammals get one they bite the meat they don't eat and I don't get much if any usable.

That's a rational way to look at it. The predator versus prey dynamic goes back eons and we can only remediate it so much.

 

[Berd Man]

Brought home two additional poults (hopefully female). I put them in the roosting area separate from the other turkeys till dark, when everyone has to go in to roost. There was a bit of pecking order bullying…seems like the five males I have were the worst offenders. The hens were just sort of puffing up and vocalizing at the new ones. I do wish I could fast forward these other toms about three weeks…

I also was gifted this mature hen, she’s the mother of the new poults and possibly a few of my other Narragansett’s. Had to drive her home in my lap because the box I brought was only big enough for the poults… whoops she sat still and was an absolute angel for the drive It was only a few minutes to my neighbors where all these turkeys have come from.

Hopefully over the next few days they’ll settle in. I’m glad this will get me to a better flock ratio of 5 hens and 1 tom. Now to see if the new birds can be trained to the electric netting as easily as the first group.

 

[Chicken Heel]

View attachment 3914794
Brought home two additional poults (hopefully female). I put them in the roosting area separate from the other turkeys till dark, when everyone has to go in to roost. There was a bit of pecking order bullying…seems like the five males I have were the worst offenders. The hens were just sort of puffing up and vocalizing at the new ones. I do wish I could fast forward these other toms about three weeks…

I also was gifted this mature hen, she’s the mother of the new poults and possibly a few of my other Narragansett’s. Had to drive her home in my lap because the box I brought was only big enough for the poults… whoops she sat still and was an absolute angel for the drive It was only a few minutes to my neighbors where all these turkeys have come from.
View attachment 3914798

Hopefully over the next few days they’ll settle in. I’m glad this will get me to a better flock ratio of 5 hens and 1 tom. Now to see if the new birds can be trained to the electric netting as easily as the first group.

Good luck with the integration. The photo of the mama hen in your lap made me laugh.