Wild Turkey feeding station

[stirfamily]

We have discovered wild turkeys on/around our property. We'd like to set up a feeding station for them. No, we're not going to hunt them. Just want to watch them. How do we go about making one?
karen in NE Indiana

[Wintergrower_OH]

They prefer eating hard mast such as acorns, nuts, and various trees, including hazel, chestnut, hickory, and pinyon pine as well as various seeds, berries such as juniper and bear berry, roots and insects. You will also see them at your bird feeder.

[Danbo]

I just chuck some corn out on the ground, and they come a runnin' Squirrels, deer and all the little birdies too.

[big rockpile]

Take a 4" Drain Pipe Tie it to a Tree couple inches off the Ground,fill it with Corn put a Cap on it.Thing is they eat alot of Corn.

Another option get a Feeder that scaters feed on a Timer which should work better.

big rockpile

[buffalocreek]

Another option: don't feed them at all. They are perfectly capable of feeding themselves.

[English Oliver]

Last year I went down in the field and tilled up a half acre and sowed it heavy with wildlife feed. The next morning there were 32 turkeys pecking and scratching there until they got every darn seed. Not a single sprout came up. I throw handfulls of shelled corn off the back porch and they will come and eat it.

"O"

[SFM in KY]

There is a flock that stays up around the hill in the back of our property ... trees on two sides and a cornfield/bean field in the back. We've been hearing the gobbling in the very early mornings the last month or so and this morning saw them out in the upper pasture ... 14 or so hens and three toms.

[mothernature]

Aren't they beautiful (and tasty too)!! Deer corn works fine, but if they are around they will keep coming back.

[tarbe]

I use broadcast feeders on timers. You can set both when they throw, and how much.

Feeds even when you are not around....keeps the birds interested in your turf!

[ninny]

With the timed feeders, the turkey and deer will get to the point that when they hear the motor go off they know that it's feeding time and will come running. If you wanted to get some pictures you could set the timer for a certain time and be there when it goes off and get some good pictures.

.

[Beeman]

You'll go broke feeding them and all of the birds and squirrels that will eat the feed too.
I cut a small notch in the bottom of a 4" piece of PVC and strapped it to a tree with a cap on it. This was when shelled corn was cheap. You can't keep up with filling the feeder. Do yourself a favor and plant oak trees.

[stirfamily]

Thanks for the advice. After reading the first post about acorns and all the other nuts, I guess the turkeys come around because we're already feeding them to an extent. We have lots of oaks and hickories on the property.

[oregon woodsmok]

If you want them to be where you can see them, build a secure pen and buy yourself a couple of domestic turkeys. The wild ones will come by to keep track of what the pet turkeys are up to. Especially if your turkeys are hens.

[MaineFarmMom]

Originally Posted by oregon woodsmok

If you want them to be where you can see them, build a secure pen and buy yourself a couple of domestic turkeys. The wild ones will come by to keep track of what the pet turkeys are up to. Especially if your turkeys are hens.

They visit my Bourbon Reds during mating season. They're so determined to get to my hens that we could walk up to them and touch them if we wanted. They poop every where, cause a lot of damage in the garden by scratching, dust bathing, eating and pooping if the dogs aren't out and break young fruit tree branches. My favorite feeding station is my oven.

[Tabitha]

uh, I wish I had a wild tom try to get to my hens. The tom we have is worthless, I was aiming to let the girls out the bottom gate where a flock of wild turkeys were hanging out. Last year our tom and the wild one were constantly trading insults, but this year, now that I need them, there is neither hide nor feather of them.

[blufford]

It starts with Wild Turkey. Then you got to have a Jack Daniels Feeding station. After that its Johnny Walker and Southern Comfort. Can't you see the trouble you're getting ready to cause?