In the spring of 2021, I brought home my first Sweetgrass turkey hatching eggs. We hatched out about a dozen, and bought a few SG poults from other farmers to diversify the genetics. We ended up with a great flock of about 16 turkeys. They had their own coop separate from the chickens and ducks, but all free ranged together. Despite the cozy coop, every single turkey roosted up in a pine tree above their coop, no matter the weather. The first and only time I tried to contain a few overnight, they broke out of the glass window at sunrise.
Fast forward to Thanksgiving (October up here in Canada), and we got down to closer to 10 turkeys. Another couple of months later and it was time for Christmas dinner - now we're down to our favourite four turkeys - a Tom and three hens - to keep as a breeding group for spring. About a month later, I came home one evening and didn't see them in their tree or in any of the coops. I took my dogs out (two big GSDs) to walk the fence line, looking for blood or feathers or any other sign they were snatched by a fox or coyote. A small part of me hoped they were roosting in a different tree, but I was fairly certain they were somebody's dinner. The next morning, I went to put fresh buckets of feed out - a morning ritual the turkeys never missed, until today. I resigned to the fact that they were probably gone for good. I was abruptly snapped out of my doom and gloom by my dog barking, his eyes locked on the field beyond the fence. Did he spot that darn fox or yote? Were they coming back for lunch today? I squinted my eyes against the sunlight on the snow, and behold; a flock of wild turkeys, their dark feathers standing out on the white landscape. I looked a little closer, and there they were - my four white and brown Sweetgrass turkeys! They were mingling with the wild flock as if they had been there all along.
A few days go by, and I figure my four will come home when they realize there is no bottomless buckets of feed out in the woods. Then weeks go by, and none have returned, but I see them every few days with their new crew. Finally, one hen shows up. She eats and drinks and roosts in the coop, but she is more skittish than before - she's seen some things out there. The next day, she is gone with the wind. I keep seeing the flock, but now only one hen with them. Outside of the safety of our electrified perimeter, I am pretty sure that the other three have been eaten by now. She must be the smartest of the bunch. I throw corn out on the fresh snow every few days in case she comes back hungry. This time, she does come back, and brings with her a line of turkeys strutting down my driveway! It looks like my little hen has found a new flock. Until we meet again, little turkey.
I have heard of wild turkeys coming onto people's farms, breeding their turkeys, and leaving behind some cute little half-wild poults, but I've never heard of turkeys leaving the good life for the wilderness. They had access to shelter, food, and water. One of my theories is that maybe they got used to their big flock, and when I reduced the numbers down to four, they felt compelled to join the large flock of wilds. Feel free to comment your theories, experiences, or anything else!
Inga
Fast forward to Thanksgiving (October up here in Canada), and we got down to closer to 10 turkeys. Another couple of months later and it was time for Christmas dinner - now we're down to our favourite four turkeys - a Tom and three hens - to keep as a breeding group for spring. About a month later, I came home one evening and didn't see them in their tree or in any of the coops. I took my dogs out (two big GSDs) to walk the fence line, looking for blood or feathers or any other sign they were snatched by a fox or coyote. A small part of me hoped they were roosting in a different tree, but I was fairly certain they were somebody's dinner. The next morning, I went to put fresh buckets of feed out - a morning ritual the turkeys never missed, until today. I resigned to the fact that they were probably gone for good. I was abruptly snapped out of my doom and gloom by my dog barking, his eyes locked on the field beyond the fence. Did he spot that darn fox or yote? Were they coming back for lunch today? I squinted my eyes against the sunlight on the snow, and behold; a flock of wild turkeys, their dark feathers standing out on the white landscape. I looked a little closer, and there they were - my four white and brown Sweetgrass turkeys! They were mingling with the wild flock as if they had been there all along.
A few days go by, and I figure my four will come home when they realize there is no bottomless buckets of feed out in the woods. Then weeks go by, and none have returned, but I see them every few days with their new crew. Finally, one hen shows up. She eats and drinks and roosts in the coop, but she is more skittish than before - she's seen some things out there. The next day, she is gone with the wind. I keep seeing the flock, but now only one hen with them. Outside of the safety of our electrified perimeter, I am pretty sure that the other three have been eaten by now. She must be the smartest of the bunch. I throw corn out on the fresh snow every few days in case she comes back hungry. This time, she does come back, and brings with her a line of turkeys strutting down my driveway! It looks like my little hen has found a new flock. Until we meet again, little turkey.
I have heard of wild turkeys coming onto people's farms, breeding their turkeys, and leaving behind some cute little half-wild poults, but I've never heard of turkeys leaving the good life for the wilderness. They had access to shelter, food, and water. One of my theories is that maybe they got used to their big flock, and when I reduced the numbers down to four, they felt compelled to join the large flock of wilds. Feel free to comment your theories, experiences, or anything else!
Inga
