Turkey Harness

[lintlicker]

Hello Everyone,

Curious if any other turkey owners like to bring their turkeys on walks? That being said, mine are very much like a dog, but id like to harness them up to bring them with me certain places.

Any ideas on harnesses that could work? Would a chicken harness work? Or would i need a medium size dog harness? Mine are all hens.

 

[Berd Man]

You could probably use any “V” shaped dog harness.

Or if you could walk beside him with a stick he probably wouldn’t run away if he’s your pet

 

[lintlicker]

You could probably use any “V” shaped dog harness.

Or if you could walk beside him with a stick he probably wouldn’t run away if he’s your pet

lol they dont run away, theyre glued to me/us when we are outside haha. I was thinking about taking one of them on a small walk with me and want to harness it up just in case, ill try and check out a V harness and see what i can come up with!

 

[nuthatched]

Sounds like a good way to expose your turkeys to diseases. I would 100% not recommend that.
I'd recommend reading up on bio security before you try anything.

 

[lintlicker]

Sounds like a good way to expose your turkeys to diseases. I would 100% not recommend that.
I'd recommend reading up on bio security before you try anything.

We live out in the sticks and theres not a lot around us besides trees, trees and more trees so it would be walks through our 198 acres behind the house etc and still being able to control if needed

 

[Berd Man]

We live out in the sticks and theres not a lot around us besides trees, trees and more trees so it would be walks through our 198 acres behind the house etc and still being able to control if needed

Ah I see now. In that first post you mentioned taking the turkey “certain places”, if that meant your 198 acre yard then you probably don’t need to harness your turkey to enjoy walking with it. I guess you could if you’d like

I think we all thought you were going to take your bird to pet smart, a public park or something lol

 

[yesterDAYNE]

The padded mesh dog harnesses will work, but they are usually a bit wonky bc they arent made to fit. These ones

Or if you really want you can probably custom order one off etsy. I did for one of my friendly hens when she was younger but she never liked it lol. Just look up chicken harness and most of the people that make them will also do a turkey size if you ask.

 

[fat brown hen]

I tried a harness like the one posted above, but turkeys are too fat around the middle and it tends to ride up like a crop top over a beer belly. Also found that it's near impossible to "steer" a turkey using a leash from above. I thought about using a dog harness with handles (like the ones you see on guide dogs) but my neighbors will think I'm insane.

 

[R2elk]

I tried a harness like the one posted above, but turkeys are too fat around the middle and it tends to ride up like a crop top over a beer belly. Also found that it's near impossible to "steer" a turkey using a leash from above. I thought about using a dog harness with handles (like the ones you see on guide dogs) but my neighbors will think I'm insane.

The best way to "steer" a turkey is with a long stick from behind. Turkeys can learn very easily to be herded. The key is to never let them win.

I am guessing you have a broad breasted turkey because heritage turkeys are not fat in the middle.

 

[fat brown hen]

The best way to "steer" a turkey is with a long stick from behind. Turkeys can learn very easily to be herded. The key is to never let them win.

I am guessing you have a broad breasted turkey because heritage turkeys are not fat in the middle.

I wanted the harness so that I could take the turkey outside of the yard, without the risk that something might spook her and cause her to fly off into the distance.

Turkeys have tapered necks and rounded bodies, whereas dogs are more cylindrical. I don't know, I could not get a dog harness to fit comfortably on a turkey.