They are still seriously adorable and they run across our property when they hear our voices which is cute. Problem....they can't tell food from friend. My DS has had toes and fingers pecked. I myself was having to whack one particularly stupid turkey off my feet repeatedly yesterday. Plus I have long hair so they are all over trying to eat that. Feeding them is starting to become a dangerous sport. Other than carrying a stick what can I do to get them to stop chewing on us? lol
I've learned that open toed shoes and orange toenail polish are not a good idea around chickens. I imagine that turkeys would present the same problem. Are they encolosed a night? If so, perhaps you can put out their feed before opening the door to their enclosure so that they rush the food instead of rushing you. We used to have an attack rooster when I was a kid. When I had to go feed the chickens, I'd use the metal lid of the garbage can where the chicken feed was stored as a shield to protect myself while I fed the chickens.
They should grow out of it. Its like human babies chewing on anything they can get near their mouth. Its all trial and error until they learn by experience its not edible. They will get it eventually. My adult turkeys rarely peck now. Good luck with them. How many do you have and what breed?
The Idea of putting the food out before letting the Turkeys out is a great one I do the same thing with all my Fowl. Its not that I am fearful of any of them its not having them under foot they go straight for the feed not standing on my feet with this pity full look of were is my food were is my food hh I want fed now . Remember Fowl of any kind has three things on there minds most of the time food sex and companionship or the flock. They will try to eat any thing your toes and your hair contain protein that's possibly food for them bright color polish of any kind would just draw there attention even quicker if they already don't have there heads shoved into a feed bucket.
If you are delivering their food in a bucket, just grab a handful or two of the feed and toss it out away from the feeder, most of them will go for the food, then you can get the feeding taken care of with a little peace. (Not all will follow the food, but enough should to make feeding a little easier for you.)
15 turkeys. 1 giant white male, 7 bronze breasted and 7 bourbon red. The bronze breasted are the nibblers. We feed inside the "coop" which is our barn. Food is also stored in there. We just bring snacks in a bucket when we have them.
