Wild Turkey in yard (growing, bugs, tomatoes, backyard)
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My Mom reported that she has a lone turkey that moves through her yard everyday. Today it was up on her deck looking at her plants and I suspect nibbling on them too. When her tomatos start coming in and the turkey makes its rounds I wager she won't have any tomatos left. Keeping the turkey away is the best bet to a healthy crop of tomatos but consider they fly and I have seen them hop over 6' tall stockade fences how can she get rid of this bird?
She does have a lab and I say let it loose on the turkey to give it a good scare but she doesn't want to do that.
Any ideas?
Yup, worked for me! I like seeing the turkeys, and my gardening is done in deck pots, so letting our Lab out was strictly for entertainment purposes. The turkey didn't fly away either, so I was wondering if there would be a confrontation, but it ran quickly into the woods where the Lab isn't allowed, and hasn't come back.
More likely the turkeys are after bugs that often hang around the plants. This is especially true for tomato plants which harbor a variety of tasty morsels for the November feathered friends.
I wish I had a wild turkey or three on my place. I love wildlife; I've had over seventy-five mule deer at one time as well as antelope, elk, partridge, and bear.
I'd advise putting little fences around the tomato plants if there's a problem, but I know I'd never do it myself. I'd rather watch the turkeys eat the tomatoes than not have turkeys. I grow my tomatoes and bell peppers as well as herbs inside. I can have fresh tomatoes on Christmas.
I wish I had a wild turkey or three on my place. I love wildlife; I've had over seventy-five mule deer at one time as well as antelope, elk, partridge, and bear.
I'd advise putting little fences around the tomato plants if there's a problem, but I know I'd never do it myself. I'd rather watch the turkeys eat the tomatoes than not have turkeys. I grow my tomatoes and bell peppers as well as herbs inside. I can have fresh tomatoes on Christmas.
Me too...well except the deer. I'm growing native hazelnuts in part because they're edible, and partly to attract wildlife. After I read that it was rare to see wild turkeys, I've wanted my yard to be a healthy enough ecosystem for them to visit.
I'm hoping they are shy of people, though. Apparently they can get huge, and the toms are kind of aggressive. OP this is COOL. I'm glad the dog worked.
Last summer, and before my wife( age 68) lost her battle with ALS in November, we would watch 10 wild turkeys come daily into our backyard . ( usually about 1 pm)
2 were adults and 8 were about half grown.
They would eat the shelled corn I put out for the deer. It was amazing how fast they grew. By November all 10 were the same size.
A strange coincidence, but my wife died Thanksgiving morning and their absence coincided with her death. They showed up November 27 but never showed up on the day she died or ever since.
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