Update on the Wild Turkey - he is clearly hand raised and is following us around the yard!!!

[peacebird]

He even let my son pick him up?!? Totally tame, and it's hunting season for wild turkey... We have him in our fenced garden now while we post a notice at the post office and on the local email listserve asking if anyone lost their pet turkey......
https://twitter.com/peacebird9/status/597147106542002177

[johnp3907]

1. Must be a peace bird.

[hollysmom]

2. certainly not like the turkeys who parked in my yard for weeks and chased me and the dog around

whenever we came out.

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. You will find they are all but dumb

[freshwest]

4. I've seen pet turkeys and ducks. They are imprinted on people early on and follow just like toddlers

They are sweet and innocent, unlike wild turkeys who can be pretty rough customers. Unfortunately, I cannot get the picture of your sweet bird to show up in my browser. Good luck with him, hope he is protected from those who are looking for an easy meal.

[octoberlib]

8. Here you go.

[freshwest]

14. My browser blocks Facebook and Twitter, so I still see nothing. Like Schultz, LOL! Thanks anyway. nt

[BlancheSplanchnik]

15. Awwwwwwwwwww!

So cute!! ❤

[leftofcool]

10. See the documentary "My Life as a Turkey"

You will love turkeys after seeing it and never forget it.

[Nay]

55. That was a wonderful documentary! My brother turned me on to it and I was

just enchanted with it.

[malaise]

5. That bird knows you are a

Peacebird!!! I'm lovin' this story.

[peacebird]

12. Here he is letting our son hold him!

https://twitter.com/peacebird9/status/597160614344138752

[malaise]

13. They both look happy

[BlancheSplanchnik]

19. awwww, again!!!

Much Cute!!! ❤

[justiceischeap]

34. Pic

[murielm99]

39. That is a great pic.

Maybe you should just keep him.

[TeeYiYi]

53. I agree...

...plus, keep the turkey too.

TYY

[Pooka Fey]

59. +1

[hlthe2b]

6. I hope you are hypersuspicious re: those who respond to your notice...

Try to construct some kind of "test" to determine if they really did raise him (or conversely are less- than- honorable "hunters" in disguise)...

Growing up, I had so much respect for hunters, as my Dad and uncles all did so. But after several publicized episodes of protected (and aging, iconic, herd leader) elk in Estes Park and elsewhere being killed-- as well as other protected species in other locales, this is not a given. Some apparently just want "bragging rights" and don't care how they get it...

[peacebird]

21. Will do so. If he is theirs they should have photos....

[unblock]

7. we have a whole turkey family that roams through our yard all the time.

[PeaceNikki]

9. Those pictures are great, thanks for sharing!

We have a bunch in my neck of the woods, too but I have never seen one that bold. There are several living in the city of Milwaukee and "one" started a Facebook page. It's a lot of fun, people post sightings often.

https://www.facebook.com/TheEastsideTurkey?fref=ts

Here are a few of my favorites from there:

[peacebird]

11. Love those pics!

[freshwest]

16. Third pic is precious. He seems to say, 'Y DO I NOT HAS HANZ?'

[PeaceNikki]

17. I know. I'm in love with it, too. I have had it as my FB profile pic at times.

He reminds me of a Muppet.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

18. Toooo Cute!!!!!

❤

[secondwind]

20. that last one gets me... lol n/t

[PeaceNikki]

25. I know, right? That one is my spirit animal.

[calimary]

27. OMG - I LOVE the third photo!

Totally stealing a copy!

Saving it for Thanksgiving posting!

[shenmue]

28. Is he getting arrested in the second picture?

[PeaceNikki]

29. Always getting hassled by The Man

[DawgHouse]

22. How cool!

[valerief]

23. How cool is that!!! nt

[Solly Mack]

24. If I was a wild turkey and it was hunting season I'd go to your house too.

[calimary]

26. Dang! He's a beauty!

[carolinayellowdog]

30. Someone must have told him your DU username!

This is just so wonderfully coincidental/copacetic/divinely ordained (take your pick). Thanks for sharing!

[peacebird]

31. He's such a big ol' sweetie!

https://twitter.com/peacebird9/status/597173332325310464

Him in the fenced garden...!

[PeaceNikki]

32. Awww! :)

[MoonRiver]

33. I think he's adopting you!

Keep him safe, peace.

[peacebird]

47. We're doing our best. Have to get to tractor supply tomorrow for feed.

Sunflower seeds are simply not sufficient....

[justiceischeap]

35. Some turkey facts

http://www.think-differently-about-sheep.com/Turkey_Facts.htm

Turkeys are affectionate

is associated with spirituality and the honouring of Earth mother. It was believed that shamans were able to turn themselves into turkeys and were thus able to prowl around other villages unrecognised. In the tradition of the Hopi creation myths, a male turkey was the first bird to try to raise the sun in the sky. The turkey is a totem animal and is called the "give away eagle" or "life giver" and is associated with shared blessings such as harvest and fertility.

Turkey have a large vocabulary. Yes that's right! Wild Turkeys have been found to have twenty distinct and specific vocalisations. "They recognise one another by their voices as well as their head characteristics" To turkeys the voices of other turkeys are unique and recognisable"
William Healy quoted in the Inner world of farm Animals by Amy Hatkoff

Turkey Intelligence

Turkeys are more intelligent that you think. Tom Savage is a poultry scientist and animal science professor at Oregon State University and a nationally known researcher. Below is an extraction from an article By Aaron Hougham, Barometer Staff writer explaining research conducted by Tom savage and his colleagues into the behaviour of turkeys.

"He said that one popular misconception is that turkeys are so stupid they will stare at rain until they drown.

He and his colleagues searched for an answer to this phenomenon.

In the early 1990s they discovered a genetic condition called tetanic torticollar spasms. This condition causes some birds to act abnormally, sometimes cocking their heads and starting at the sky for 30 seconds or more.

"It's an example of how a misunderstood animal behavior becomes identified as proof that the animal is extremely lacking in intelligence," Savage said in a recent press release.

Providing another example of their intelligence, Savage had an illustration most college students could relate to.

"If you throw an apple to a group of turkeys, they'll play with it together," he said. "Kind of like football."

Savage asks, "If turkeys are so dumb, then why do they socialize like that?"

To read the full article please click
Turkeys: much smarter than you think

"If I had to sum up my experience with the wild turkey, the most profound thing that I discovered is that they are much more complex in their intelligence, their behavior and their problem- solving ability than I ever imagined. They are sentient beings. By every measure and every definition of intelligence, in their environment and in their world they are without questions much more intelligent than I was. "
Joe Hutto quoted in the Inner world of farm Animals by Amy Hatkoff

On edit: turkeys playing soccer

[carolinayellowdog]

37. my lacto-ovo-pesco-pollo semi-vegetarianism is due for an update

Have not eaten a fellow mammal since 1979, and have known the sweet affection of parrots and cockatiels --who aren't on the human food chain anyhow. But as for eating turkey, have been doing so but this thread REALLY gives me pause.

[justiceischeap]

38. Yeah, I learned some time ago that turkeys

will play soccer, that they're affectionate and have the intelligence of a toddler. Can't eat them anymore. Same thing with chickens. I pretty much only eat things without a central nervous system (mussels and oysters). Beyond that, I'm vegetarian.

[peacebird]

40. Very cool!

[Archae]

36. Ben Franklin wanted to make the wild turkey the national bird.

He didn't like bald eagles, because while they do LOOK noble, they behave anything but.

They'll steal food from other birds, eat other birds' babies, the works.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

41. I'd like to make it the National Drink.

[The Wizard]

42. We ahd wild turkeys visiting every day

They would dine at the bird feeder. One time the feeder was empty and they came to that back door and started pecking. It was fun watching the mother, I named Morey, a rare white turkey raise her brood.

[PeaceNikki]

43. I was telling my mom about this post and she told me about this recent turkey home invasion.

http://www.whdh.com/story/28938487/wild-turkey-breaks-into-rhode-island-home

A Rhode Island couple will have to spend thousands of dollars to repair their garage after an unusual intruder caused a flood.

The couple discovered a wild turkey had invaded their bathroom.

Nancy Page said she returned home 10 days ago to find a turkey in the bathroom.

The animal apparently entered through a double-pane window.

Page said the turkey left a mess all over the bathroom and somehow managed to turn on the sink.

[cwydro]

44. I have ducks and geese,

as well as my chickens. They are all my sweet pets, and I love them dearly.

I sure hope you find his owner...or if not, that you can enjoy your new pet lol.

These birds are wonderful and smart creatures.

[peacebird]

48. We sent out the word on our community email list, if no one calls then we will happily adopt him!

Our 6 month old grandson laughs at the sight of him!

[cwydro]

56. Very glad to hear.

I would be happy to offer him a home on the farm here with my other critters otherwise.

Birds are so funny. As you've already discovered, they are great amusement lol!

[840high]

45. I so enjoyed all the pics. Thanks.

[beam me up scottie]

46. I had a wild hen show up out of the blue and adopt me.

The game warden said she'd probably been traumatized and imprinted on me. I couldn't keep her penned up so she had free range of the farm.

She followed me everywhere, even chased my car down the road. Then she started laying in front of other vehicles like she wanted to stop them.

I won't tell you the rest, just keep an eye on him.

Good luck.

[peacebird]

49. Thank you! Hoping the boy is safe in our deer fenced garden tonight....

There are some trees but he doesn't seem able to fly? Maybe his owners clipped his wings?

[beam me up scottie]

50. He may be traumatized like my bird.

Has he tried to fly at all?

[peacebird]

52. No, not once....

[beam me up scottie]

54. Unusual behaviour, just like my hen.

She was definitely a wild bird but docile as a kitten. She actually laid down next to me when I sat on the stoop.

I guess he decided he needed a new family.

[Baitball Blogger]

51. Make sure the turkey isn't getting fattened up for Memorial Day.

[Enthusiast]

57. I would like to point out that some unscrupulous hunters have been known

to use live decoys. These would be raised by people and pretty tame. He could have escaped a hunting set up where they anchor a live bird where they hope to attract a large wild tom.

[peacebird]

58. No! Really? Who could do such an awful thing?!?

It breaks my heart to even think about that.....

[Enthusiast]

60. It's sad, yes. I don't think they would harm their decoy turkey. The wild tom might