Turkeys-aaaggghhh!

Peasants · **Posted:** Sat May 19, 2012 5:03 pm

Our turkeys are driving me crazy! They free range in the orchard....well that is what they are supposed to do....but they are able to fly/jump over the surrounding fences into other paddocks and the neighbours- but here is the problem-THEY CAN'T GET BACK. :swear:

We really wouldn't mind them ranging in a wider area than we had allocated, provided they come back home to their pen in the evening. Unfortunately at the moment they just pace up and down on the wrong side of the fence (even though they jumped over in the first place!).

We clipped one wing of one of the toms, but can't see any real help as yet.

Any other ideas please?

Simo · **Posted:** Mon May 21, 2012 2:28 pm

Clip both wings :dunno:

Peasants · **Posted:** Sat Aug 11, 2012 10:51 am

Thought it may be good to update......we finally realised that the female turkeys were looking for nesting areas, so we provided a couple of areas closer to and inside their pen. Also, after observing them more closely ( :blush:

probably should have done that in the first place) we realised that they don't jump or fly 'over' but land on top of the gate or rail, then jump to the other side. By stringing a couple of strands of rope across the top of each gate/rail, they could no longer get on to it...and have stayed in the orchard since!!

Here are our 'garden galleons' doing what they do so well- strutting around!

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IMG_7469.JPG [ 194.87 KiB | Viewed 3511 times ]

We lost a couple to foxes unfortunately, before we worked all this out, but now two hens have nested successfully (hence the strutting toms probably!!)

KK75 · **Posted:** Sun Dec 14, 2014 3:51 pm

Gday Peasants how are the turkeys going? I was curious as to how high your fence was around the orchard? Im thinking of doing something similar but still in the planning stages?

Peasants · **Posted:** Wed Mar 16, 2016 9:14 pm

Hi KK75, most of the fence is normal ring lock height- for a while we had some Houdini's, and often do during breeding/nesting season, but have since found it easier just to lock them up so they stay safe from the foxes. We have some turkeys we are going to put on gumtree soon so let us know if you are interested. No idea what gender they are, though pretty sure one of the older ones is a tom.
Good luck with your planning!

Perpetuitas · **Posted:** Fri Mar 18, 2016 6:40 pm

Good to hear they are working out for you!

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