Ok, the Narragansetts have found a new way to drive me crazy. After sitting on my back deck and porch and pooping all winter, now they keep dissapearing. Last weekend, it was all three at once, then that evening Tom-Tom came back and the next day one of the hens. I finially found the other hen 4 days later down the road, but headed home. Now yesterday both hens dissapeared and Tom-Tom is standing in the back yard calling for them.
Why do they keep dissapearing? Anybody got ideas?
I was hoping to get eggs or chicks from them before they go to that big icebox, but if I get my hands on their necks right now, I won't care.
I'm going back to big dumb lazy bronzes even if they can't breed on their own.
Runaway Turkey's
Now I know why I don't want turkeys. Of course, we have enough wild ones around here to be a problem at times. So, if I want turkey, all I have to do is........go to the store and buy one....LOL.
sound like its freezer time!
sorry bout your trouble. we don't have turkeys, YET
Yep, I've heard that refrain before, TF. That's the way you end up with a menagerie.
my son has bronze turkeys kept in a fenced in area with chickens. none have run away, i clipp feathers too just in case. they are not dumb! his are the sweetest most gentle birds. i would rather have turkeys then chickens.
Could be they are visiting with a wild flock. They can and sometimes will eventually join in with a wild flock and never come back...does happen.
Best of luck.
Julie =0)
Peepsqueak, My bronzes stayed put too, they just don't seem to have the desire to go anywhere, but the food dish. The Narries can fly, even with clipped wings. My fence is four foot and they still get out.
I have suspected that they are after the wild turkeys too. I rehabed a big tom and I wonder if he didn't come back for them. Though I don't really see why they would prefer the wild one with a limp over their own Tom-tom. Maybe it's that "bad Boy" image.....
well, we don't have any wild turkeys close by. but i will be getting a different breed than gansetts or bronzes, maybe that will help.
I have Narrie eggs on the way, and RP's and some BWB's too. Maybe I'll just eat the eggs when they get here...Scott
One of the females came back and Tom-Tom is happy again. No clue where the other is, I looked all over. I think I'm going to put these two in a pen, but I know they'll have a fit as they have never been penned before and they won't be able to watch TV through the window.
We knew she was back before we saw her as Tom-Tom attacked my husband as soon as he stepped out the door. He doesn't bother anyone or any thing else, just Husband. Must be an alpha male thing.
hmmm.. maybe keeping the Alphas penned will keep the others around?
LOL Scott
This message was edited Mar 16, 2008 11:02 PM
I thought about a shock collar, but my husband keeps taking it off.
;o))
Is there any chance they have nests and he just happens to wonder off with them?
No. The tom and one female are staying in the yard and though she is laying a few eggs has not nested. The other won't come back, even though we have seen her in the neighborhood.I hope she at least, joins up with the wild ones.
and no chance she is on a nest, or you not sure?
No, she dissapeared two weeks before they started laying. I'm positive she is not in the yard or nearby. Last I saw her she was down at the end of the street.
I understand that, but is there any chance she started laying before you think or realize [they] she did?
No.
Too bad. I've never had a turkey run off like that but I do remember my grandmother had a peacock that got out one day and flew as far as we could see. He was gone almost six months, then one morning out of nowhere he was back. She opened the hen house and in he went. We have no idea where he went or what he was doing. I know it's not likely that she will return but it goes to show you never really know. Keep your fingers crossed and I wish you the best. Is there anyway you will be able to hatch some from the other hen?
The other hen is starting a nest now, we will have to see what happens. At this point, I don't care if the other one is coming back or not. I've had it with these guys and they will be eaten this summer. From what I understand, it's not that unusual with Narragansetts. There must still be some wild blood in them and they are really good flyers, so hard to keep penned.
Sounds like someone may be "helping" you by putting them up for you! Do you have close neighbors that have poultry of any kind?
Audrey
I'm the only one in the area with poultry. The run away hen joined up with a wild flock and I caught a glimps of her last week with chicks. She fared better than the one that stayed, she lost her chicks.
it's amazing to think that wild turkeys are actually some of the most cunning and clever birds out there! hunters here upstate (and in new england) hated them for a long time because they were so difficult to catch, but we've bred the domesticated ones to the point of idiocy.
the domesticated ones sure are tasty though... i wonder if there's a relationship between low IQ in animals and the tastiness of their meat? ;)
Has to be a correlation, Kissy. Any critter that can't think of anything better to do than eat is going to end up juicy. Tender. Sweet. Three cheers for the low IQ! Yum...
Kissybear--you seem to be hungry much of the time. I wouldn't let you near my pets!:0)
be nice!
on second thought, after seeing kissybears other posts, i would say it is past his/her feeding time... feed the bears, so they don't eat you LOL
This message was edited Aug 2, 2008 4:16 PM
I'll try. But it is soooooo haaaaarrrrrd!:0)
Will you forgive me KB? (Still glad you're all the way out in the wild, wild, East). LOL
"Sheep may safely graze....";0)
It's a good thing there's no forum dedicated to fried chicken or you'd never hear the end of me!
Glad you're back KB.
I'm thinking KB would be the perfect patsy...um...recipient for all our extra roos. He doesn't like eggs--but wants lots of fried chicken. Do they allow chickens in NY, NY?
KB,c oem and get my extra roos! before they get shot!