Wild turkeys visiting

[ringaring]

1 wild turkey has made it over the fence into the duck yard. There’s a large flock that usually ambles alongside the chicken yard but this is the 1 st time one has found it’s way in. Are they a threat to my birds (chickens, ducks & geese) in any way? I also don’t want to feed them - poultry feed is expensive enough without feeding the neighborhood. Seems all the critters are visiting this year for the 1st time; long tailed weasel, red tailed hawk and now turkeys in the yard. TIA

 

[R2elk]

1 wild turkey has made it over the fence into the duck yard. There’s a large flock that usually ambles alongside the chicken yard but this is the 1 st time one has found it’s way in. Are they a threat to my birds (chickens, ducks & geese) in any way? I also don’t want to feed them - poultry feed is expensive enough without feeding the neighborhood. Seems all the critters are visiting this year for the 1st time; long tailed weasel, red tailed hawk and now turkeys in the yard. TIA

Avian flu is going around this year. If the wild turkeys get it they can pass it on to your flock. If you can, open the gate and herd it out. Anything the wild ones have including lice can be passed to your flock. They may not have anything and only time will tell.

 

[ringaring]

Avian flu is going around this year. If the wild turkeys get it they can pass it on to your flock. If you can, open the gate and herd it out. Anything the wild ones have including lice can be passed to your flock. They may not have anything and only time will tell.

Thanks. I was told lice can jump ~2-3ft. Fortunately the ducks ran in the other direction when the turkeys (11 this morning) headed their way. They were after any spilled wild bird food. I think the geese will keep the turkeys out of the chicken yard. They're not very neighborly, to the chickens, dogs or anyone else. At least the turkeys can't get in to the coops for the poultry feed. Avian flu: it's in Long Island & I worry more about the hundreds of jays, sparrows, etc that visit all year long. Not the time to stop feeding them - they only turn their attention to the poultry food in & around the coops. I will move the feeders further away, see if that helps. If only we could get a cat, or two.

 

[sirrobyn0]

I'm with ringaring, they could bring disease or parasites or eat your feed. I would not be worried about a direct attack. I suppose that could happen but I think is unlikely. We have a large pond on our property that our ducks use, but also wild ducks will fly in from time to time stay for the afternoon or for a day and then leave. Nothing has ever happened. No you probably don't want the wild turkeys moving in!