Turkeys Free Range

[frank53061]

As said by someone else if this is your first batch of Turkeys and you are letting them free range at first it needs to be monitored as much as you can.
I have a neighbor that has a show place of a garden every year flowers and veggies and it can be seen from my property and if I can see it the Turkeys can to.
From time to time I would see them wonder in that direction and from time to time I would see them trotting down the road to see whats on the Menu.
I and my Daughter would have to get our long sticks and heard them back until I got smarter than the Turkeys.
I now only let out half at a time to free range and they stay close to the ones still penned up but still free range and eat bugs and grass.
I also trained them when we call them to give them a treat of bread or home made Biscuits after awhile the sound of the back screen door is all it takes now and they come a running the Chickens also.
I also only let my Turkeys out when I am home all it would take is a stray dog to kill a few of them of course my dogs let me know if any come around.
Its funny to see my chickens or Turkeys play chicken with my Great Dane while he is napping in the yard just to see how close they can get before he moves then they run off but he would not hurt them of course

 

[sidsmama]

Ours are free range and we haven't had any difficulty with them trying to leave. Ours are very tame and come running as soon as the hear their food shaken in Folgers coffee can

They follow us around, very friendly. The only trouble we have is that the hen is becoming aggressive with one of our ducks and our chickens.

 

[Celie]

They need supervision at that age, also, because of predators, especially hawks! All of our flocks are housed cage free, in a large poultry barn, but when first put in with the adults, the poults need some structure to get under to get away from the adults until they learn the pecking order. Once they learn not to antagonize the big guys, these hiding places can be removed. The first few nights at dark, we usually have to round them up and put them into the barn, as they will stay just outside the barn doors. After they learn that the barn means safety, they put themselves to roost around dark like the other 400 or so birds that free range on out 5 acres. We only feed in the barn, so that is where they go at night, or we would have them all around the property, trying to roost on top the roof and anything else they think would be a good place to perch. The half grown turkeys and alpha laying chickens perch in the rafters and the rest of the chickens on the perches that are about 5 to 6 feet high. The oldest toms are too heavy to get that high, so they either sleep on the floor or about 2 feet off the ground. At dark thirty, we go out and close all the barn doors. Since we will have 3 breeds next year, the barn will have to be partitioned during breeding season, from December to August!
By the way, as teenagers, turkeys play "Lets see who can perch the highest in the trees and rooftops" and sometimes want to stay out all night, but they do not fly away!

 

[jade0206]

Thanks for all the advise, I still have not found what they go crazy for yet, they love raspberries, but cant shake them to get them in the coop, right know they are fence in and I close the coop door all day when I get home from work I open and they go right in. I just wanted to be able to leave them out on the weekends when I home. Any good ideas what kind of treats I could try?

 

[furbabymum]

All my birds are together. I've noticed that most of my birds follow after the peacocks. This is awesome as the peacocks have already shown a protective tendency toward their "space". I've seen them threaten our dogs.... So with the peacocks and guineas out on patrol I have no problem with my other birds. My turkeys are young at about 1 1/2 months for the youngest, 4 months for the oldest. They always go back to the coop at night.

 

[Crazycomb]

I am so glad to see this post. I had the same question. I have two bourbon reds that I would like to let free range. I will give it a try this weekend! Thanks!

 

[kuntrygirl]

I am so glad to see this post. I had the same question. I have two bourbon reds that I would like to let free range. I will give it a try this weekend! Thanks!

Good looking birds.

 

[Crazycomb]

Thank you. These are my first turkeys and I adore them!

They are such docile and funny creatures. I am looking to add several more to the homestead.

 

[chicken pickin]

I let my turkeys free range also. At the moment I have 4 adults and 9 juveniles. I start letting the young turkeys have free access to the outside at about 8 weeks old. The young turkeys are good flyers but everyone stays in our small yard.