Turkeys

[timmy k 590]

I'm sitting bored with a broken hip watching turkey hunting on  the pursuit channel and I recall a time I was out with the terriers on a farm with a large patch of woodland, whilst checking earth's for a fox I could hear turkeys gobbling, when the day was finish and we were loading the dogs in the car I asked a farm worker about it. He told us these turkeys had gone feral and been living their a number of years.

Now I don't know if these turkeys were breeding, or what breed they were (I understand the big domestic ones can't breed naturally), but what breeds could survive and breed giving a viable population in the wild? Would they use the feed left out for pheasants? What would the mortality rate be?

I doubt they would be of any use for driven shoots, but for stalking or ambush hunting they could be a fun addition to a shoot, not sure of the legalities though.

[Gilbey 1,434]

Been on a place that had American wild turkeys around the farm with the poultry, and out in the woods with the pheasants. Can't help with questions. Said when they flush over the line they are like B52 bombers

[timmy k 590]

Can you buy wild turkeys?

Or is that just the name of the breed

[Gilbey 1,434]

Yeah you can buy them or hatching eggs. Can't remember if they said the above ones came as eggs or birds?

Genuine American wild turkeys

[wilburfoxhound 1]

On 28/08/2024 at 23:42, Gilbey said:

Yeah you can buy them or hatching eggs. Can't remember if they said the above ones came as eggs or birds?

Genuine American wild turkeys

i tried them but lost them to fox,however one of my mates got them at the same time and aye if they didnt go up a tree they came out like you said

[mackem 26,264]

There's fox and coyote,plus raccoon here that take Turkey eggs,but the birds thrive,they are survivors,I imagine they would adapt quite well in the UK.