Wild turkeys versus chickens.

[Foghorn]

I regularly have turkey come through my property. Would they avoid my yard once my chickens are there? Or will they pose a threat to them? The momma turkeys always have about 8 or 9 chicks with them at certain times. What about then? I wouldn't like to see what would happen if there was a confrontation. Those turkeys are pretty big. Has anybody had such a "meeting"?

 

[pegbo]

I kind of wish the wild turkeys would stroll through my yard more often. Once in a while they do but I don't think they'll bother your chicks. They might go after the scratch though. I had something unusual happen last year. My husband went up in the field above our place to call wild turkeys and he thought one was coming through the brush. When it was where he could see it , he found out it was a male peacock. We asked our neighbors if it was theirs and they said no! It seems someone just dropped it of on the side of the road. It hung around my chickens for a while and then took off down the road. We're not sure where it went and I know they can't survive the winter here in NY. I just wish he had stayed around so I could make sure he was safe. Oh well!

 

[Barnyard Dawg]

We have wild turkeys land in the trees behind our home; they don’t come into our yard because of our dogs. I see them all the time I never have known them to be aggressive but they possibly could be around chickens?

 

[keeperofthechickens]

I think it would be rare.

Growing up I remember a high testosterone wild Tom going at it with my cocky little Belgian Camp Roster once or twice.

It was pretty cool to see, the rooster would run under the toms legs. And then jump up and peck the tom in the face. That little roo held his own.

Eventually the Tom end up following some hens and we never saw him again.

 

[bigzio]

Foghorn, We have wild turkeys in the yard quite often. In the spring when they hear the chickens they come to investigate, wonder around for a while and leave.

If a human is to even step out the door they take off running or flying.I'll have to figure out how to post pics, we took a couple pics of turkeys right in the back yard yesterday.

When they hear the hens, they are thinking there must be something good to eat.

Hen turkeys will protect their brood, however just the buck, buck ,buck, sound they make is enough to deter most anything, she will keep the young chicks a safe distance.

bigzio

 

[Alisha in Cali]

The wild turkeys that wander into my yard get along fine with my chickens, even the roos. I've had the wild turkeys come up and investigate the chickens' food, give it a few pecks, and saunter around the yard. It's kinda cute to see the lawn all covered in chickens and turkeys. It's like the turkeys think the yard is safe because the chickens are there. I even had a hen think about making a nest along the driveway.

 

[Foghorn]

Thanks everyone for the replies. It's good to hear that they will all get along.