Would having a couple turkeys free range cause problems with the wild turkey?

Joe_Singer

Joe_Singer

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Ok so my family own 25 acres and half is bush. I was thinking on maybe picking up a few bronze turkeys and leaving them free range around the property and I was wondering if this would be a problem.
The bronze turkeys are the cross between a domestic turkeys from Europe and with the Wild Turkey.
The bronze turkey is larger and more robust than the European turkeys, and tamer than wild turkeys.
But with this im just not sure on how long they will last with the coyotes around and for the nights i was wondering on if they would roost up in a tree just like the wild turkeys.
 
I'd be more inclined to go with guinea fowl chances of survival better they fly better, roost better and are probably Einstiens compared to domestic forms of turkeys. Also if you are hunting wild turkeys over or near your free range turkeys I think the live decoy rule may come into consideration.
My great uncle raised them free range at the head of Chemung Lake, good reproduction success, good eggs from the hens that would coop, excellent meat and if you had a garden they kept the bugs at bay. Only downside they're talkers and sound like a rusty windmill and if they're disturbed at night, they'll raise a cemetary to action.
 
art.h said:
I'd be more inclined to go with guinea fowl chances of survival better they fly better, roost better and are probably Einstiens compared to domestic forms of turkeys. Also if you are hunting wild turkeys over or near your free range turkeys I think the live decoy rule may come into consideration.
My great uncle raised them free range at the head of Chemung Lake, good reproduction success, good eggs from the hens that would coop, excellent meat and if you had a garden they kept the bugs at bay. Only downside they're talkers and sound like a rusty windmill and if they're disturbed at night, they'll raise a cemetary to action.
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Hummm never thought of the guinea fowl but I will see if i can find someone who has them and maybe try out a few. Do they take the winters ok and how do they taste in the oven ?

I have never hunted on my property and dont think I will start as i just like to see the odd turkey and deer every now and then. Never knew about the live decoy rule tho and interested in checking that out.

Since living out here he have had just the basic birds like just the common meat chicken, egg laying chickens, and a few differnt kinds of ducks. All were free range as yes they do eat most of the bugs out of are large garden, the meat from the chickens were better and so were the eggs. Only problem tho was we did loose a bunch of chickens and all are ducks to the coyotes and im thinking the owls?
I would find some of the chicken with the heads gone and same with the ducks. any ideas on why ?
 
Only two possibilities left, weasels (fisher is a weasel type animal, not sure if you have them in BC) or your own pet(not as uncommon as you'd think). Coyotes will play with their food, but take it away, wolves will take it away, Predator birds will take a duck or chicken away.
 
I second the guinea fowl, I hate the damn things, they are tough birds and we had few that live just fine in an un heated barn all winter. We keep the guineas to keep weasels and such out of the phesant pens, similar to putting llama or donkey in with sheep.
 
Applefarmer said:
Only two possibilities left, weasels (fisher is a weasel type animal, not sure if you have them in BC) or your own pet(not as uncommon as you'd think). Coyotes will play with their food, but take it away, wolves will take it away, Predator birds will take a duck or chicken away.
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Im in Princeton Ontario, and we do have a dog but we lost everything before we got the dog.
 
I think that guinea fowl breeders are in a conspiracy with the earplug and earmuff vendors of the world.
I strongly dislike them. they chased me at the Calgary zoo when i was a kid. I feel the need to hold the grudge to this day.
 
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