will turkeys freerange and return to coupe?

[kuntrygirl]

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Well, I believe in positive thinking, so I will continue to think that they will return home. They are just on a short furlough. They just wanted to check out the local scenery but they will return.

Let's put positive thoughts out there in the universe.

Let us know when they return.

 

[kiwi-chookn]

ill do kuntrygirl.
We are semi rural where we are,so theres a few houses around,a large cemetary out the back and a few acres of hay-fields so maybe their out huntin crickets

 

[kiwi-chookn]

well i found them,next door (few acres) and rounded them back into their tractor pen,that wount happen again soon i hope?
Should i trim their wings so if they do escape again they wont be able to fly as well.

 

[ColbyNTX]

Glad they are back mate! I don't like trimming wings because they can't escape from your dingo's as well. See, they didn't go too far. Maybe if you leave them pinned a couple more months and feed them some scratch or some treats, they should stick around. Turkeys do like to explore and I can't find mine at some points of the day but they are back before roost. I am lucky that all my neighbors they are within their range like to see them come visit.

 

[kiwi-chookn]

no dingoes here in New zealand.
The biggest night time predator we have is a mid sized owl so they should be ok at night if they get out again.

 

[kuntrygirl]

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Yeaaaaaaaaaaaa

I knew that putting positive thoughts out in the universe would work. I'm so glad to hear that they are back. I'm not sure about trimming wings because you still want them to be able to escape predators.

 

[ShadyHoller]

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I thought you were overrun with possums in NZ...? Or at least on the N. Island? Possums around here have no trouble plucking a chicken off the roost, and a three or four month-old turkey would seem to be in their league as well.

Also, glad you got your birds back. I can sympathize with the stress. If you decide to try letting them out again, one thing you might consider is treating the birds to a few handfuls of scratch in the grass where you want them to hang out. They will get the idea that is where the treats can be found. When we let our birds out from time to time, I bribe them into sticking around by scattering scratch grains.

 

[kiwi-chookn]

we do have possums here,quite a few too.
They tend to be in the bush more than the built up areas.
They are a massive problem with killing fledgling native endangered birds,kiwi's,kakapo's and many others.
I dont doubt they would grab a smaller chook,but not a bigger bird.
Our possums are fairly small,the size of a medium cat or there-abouts.

 

[kuntrygirl]

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Turkeys still doing ok?

 

[kiwi-chookn]

Hi.
They are,still in their pen though.
We are about to be hit with another cyclone so I wont be letting them out any time soon.
Cheers