Author Topic: Turkey in the Straw (Read 3646 times)

Craig · « **on:** March 02, 2007, 07:35:37 AM »

I have no idea how he got there, but I found this big boy on front porch of the office! Down side is turkey season doesn't open for two weeks.<g>

Esther · « **Reply #1 on:** March 02, 2007, 07:39:50 AM »

And he let you catch him? I would think the turkey would have used those spurs on his ankles.

EagleEye · « **Reply #2 on:** March 02, 2007, 07:47:52 AM »

Now I've seen everything. The fact that you are holding him (and not eating him) must mean that he is someones turkey. I still cant' belive that you could pick him up though.
You have the darndest critters walk into your yard!

So, are you going to keep him?

Steve

Sean · « **Reply #3 on:** March 02, 2007, 08:01:29 AM »

Mmmmm...

Fresh Easter Turkey.

Cheers,
Sean

marla · « **Reply #4 on:** March 02, 2007, 08:10:19 AM »

Have plenty of wild turkeys running around here, and there is no way you would be able to catch one or pick one up, must be pretty tame. Good photo.

Esther · « **Reply #5 on:** March 02, 2007, 09:01:57 AM »

Didn't you tell us that a turkey was bothering your ostrich?

happyoutsidegirl · « **Reply #6 on:** March 02, 2007, 09:21:25 AM »

My oh My! It must have been hand raised. So are ya gonna fatten it up? P.S. I swipped your pic for my friens folder. Thanks it's a good one.

Joyce · « **Reply #7 on:** March 02, 2007, 10:13:22 AM »

We have them around here too Craig.
They are so pretty close up, the way the feathers are so iridescent.

Pa Nancy · « **Reply #8 on:** March 02, 2007, 10:17:13 AM »

I knew a guy once that had a tame wild turkey. His name was Tom.

This guy and 26 others have been hanging around our place since Nov. last year. But you know come turkey season there won't be a turkey within a mile of here.

Apparently this turkey doesn't realize it's still winter.

Some of his flock. Twenty seven in all 9 gobblers/jakes the rest hens.

happyoutsidegirl · « **Reply #9 on:** March 02, 2007, 10:27:32 AM »

Pa Nancy, Great shots! What a beautiful Tom.

Indiana Karen · « **Reply #10 on:** March 02, 2007, 03:12:05 PM »

Great picture Tom.

One day I was sitting on our porch swing and hubby came driving up the lane in his pickup. I could see a funny head sticking up and couldn't imagine what he had. When he stopped for the mail this turkey was just standing along the road. He had no problem picking it up. We tried to put it in our garage until our kids got home from school, that didn't work. So, we took turns holding it and taking pictures, then turned it loose.

Nancy, that first pic is wonderful. I have a lot of pictures, but have never caught one strutting.

Karen

Craig · « **Reply #11 on:** March 02, 2007, 03:59:26 PM »

Hi Esther,

It is my guinea fowl that pesters the ostrich.

I have to say that to the best of my recollection this is the one and only game animal that has every "posed" with me and been alive to tell about it.<g>

He is still out in the yard. The property is fenced in hog wire and while he can't fit through it...he hasn't figured out how to get over it either. Which is pretty much his death knell as if he won't/can't fly over a 4' fence, then he isn't going to go to roost and with the predator load in these parts...if they don't roost, they don't live.

If he is still around in the morning, I imagine I'll build him something to spend his nights in. I have to think it is a farm raised bird that was released onto the licensed hunting preserve down the road, but avid a hunter as I am, this one doesn't have to worry about me being his downfall.<g>

GAJen · « **Reply #12 on:** March 02, 2007, 05:16:53 PM »

He's too pretty to eat!

Teresa · « **Reply #13 on:** March 02, 2007, 06:06:00 PM »

Well after seeing him in your arms, it would be hard to think of him at the other end of your shotgun . . . . glad to hear he's relatively safe . . .

Ky Kim · « **Reply #14 on:** March 02, 2007, 08:18:31 PM »

I just couldn't imagine finding something like that on my front porch. I've seen them on the side of the roads here. Being he's that easy to catch, must be pretty tame. I don't think I could have him on my dinner table.

Kim

Craig · « **Reply #15 on:** March 03, 2007, 09:26:14 AM »

Well I was right. He didn't go to roost and he didn't survive the night. I found his carcass in the side pasture this AM.

Joyce · « **Reply #16 on:** March 03, 2007, 09:27:36 AM »

:'( :'( :'(

happyoutsidegirl · « **Reply #17 on:** March 03, 2007, 09:53:30 AM »

:'( I asume the preditors? Darn, he was so sweet. :'( If not preditors I'd be learry for your other birds??? So sorry Craig. :'(

Esther · « **Reply #18 on:** March 03, 2007, 02:18:16 PM »

Wonder how he lived so long without roosting in the trees.

froggerLee · « **Reply #19 on:** March 03, 2007, 02:24:51 PM »

Ahhhhh, how neat that you are going to give him shelter. I really admire that.
Than again, I wish I had tons of land sometimes, to take in tons of animals!!! Don't tell my hubby I said that!

Craig · « **Reply #20 on:** March 03, 2007, 04:38:43 PM »

I have no doubt but that it was a predator of sorts...I just didn't figure they'd be on to his presence the first night. And Esther, I think he was pen raised and just experiencing the great outdoors for the first time.

All of Florida isn't paved over as yet so we are still pretty rural and critters abound. I can't begin to tell you how many animals we have 'fed' to the creatures of the night until we learned enough on how to fortify their night quarters. The Guinea roosts in a live oak and the ostrich is big enough to fend for herself, but the rest are in fortified coops.<g>

A rough count of the losses would be nearly forty guineas ( 1 survivior), about the same number of chickens ( the newest batch are just starting to lay now) and maybe fifteeen or so ducks.

Predators I've seen on the property, not counting avians and owls did quite a bit of the killing, include fox, bobcat, coyote and Florida panther.

Pa Nancy · « **Reply #21 on:** March 03, 2007, 06:13:14 PM »

Quote from: Indiana Karen on March 02, 2007, 03:12:05 PM

Great picture Tom.

One day I was sitting on our porch swing and hubby came driving up the lane in his pickup. I could see a funny head sticking up and couldn't imagine what he had. When he stopped for the mail this turkey was just standing along the road. He had no problem picking it up. We tried to put it in our garage until our kids got home from school, that didn't work. So, we took turns holding it and taking pictures, then turned it loose.

Nancy, that first pic is wonderful. I have a lot of pictures, but have never caught one strutting.

Karen

Thanks Karen. I was really tickled to get him strutting. Darn though he wouldn't look straight at me. Our snow is gone now, probably won't get that shot again.

At least not with the snow background.

Marie Fisher · « **Reply #22 on:** March 03, 2007, 07:09:20 PM »

Aww, Craig, shame turkey didn't survive the night. Might have been any of
the predators you mentioned. He was nice fat bird too.
Marie

karen J · « **Reply #23 on:** March 03, 2007, 09:53:13 PM »

Craig, I'm sorry about your turkey. Is that really you in the picture? Can you do anything with the carcass? Or has it become compost?

Pa Nancy, wow. Great pics.

We do not get any "real" turkeys around here. Only Butterballs...

GAJen · « **Reply #24 on:** March 04, 2007, 09:07:19 AM »

I'm sorry Craig.

EagleEye · « **Reply #25 on:** March 04, 2007, 12:59:25 PM »

Bummer, sorry to hear that he didn't last a day.
Karen, all that will be left of the turkey is bones.

Steve

Shep · « **Reply #26 on:** March 04, 2007, 01:08:16 PM »

I've never seen a turkey gray like that before.... might have died of old age.

Sorry, couldn't help myself....... great pic and best of luck raising your tamed critters!

happyoutsidegirl · « **Reply #27 on:** March 04, 2007, 01:30:27 PM »

Craig · « **Reply #28 on:** March 04, 2007, 04:41:10 PM »

Guess there is no use in denying that is indeed me in the picture....but I did photoshop the gray in my beard for the comic effect. In reality it is jet black.<g>

I think an owl got him Steve, so the carcass was pretty much intact. I did try to breast it out, but even though I was up and at it before dawn, the temps that night hadn't fallen out of the 70's, so let's just say it wasn't meant to be as it hadn't been properly refrigerated.

froggerLee · « **Reply #29 on:** March 04, 2007, 04:45:30 PM »

Ahh, I am so sorry he did not make it. I missed that post last night. Bummers.

Author Topic: Turkey in the Straw (Read 3646 times)

GAJen

GAJen