Dave H (MI)
Well-known Member
Something is killing our turkeys. We have raised Narragansett turkeys for the last 10-12 years and heavy geese for decades. Never much of a problem. Geese can take care of themselves and the turkeys roost on an elevated A-frame with two levels, one about 4 feet up and the other close to 8 feet high. We have two toms that sit on the ground. Started about three weeks back when a hen brooding 7 chicks was attacked in the night. Killed the hen, all the chicks missing. About a week ago a hen was attacked on her perch at night but we heard it and rescued her. Never saw the attacker. This morning a hen was found dead on the lawn. Since they roost high my first thought is a raccoon, but this hen (based on the feather trail) was chased back and forth over a two acre enclosure until she was finally caught. Was eaten right out in the open. Head and neck gone and internals eaten out of body. Intestines piled on ground near body. Most of the breast area eaten also. Does this sound like a coon to you all? Seems like it went to a lot of effort to catch her and we don't generally have trouble with them attacking the larger birds. I am putting out the usual Coke/fly bait cocktail for the next few nights and will continue until I kill everything in the area. If it turns out to be a coyote, fox or feral dog will these take the bait also or do I need to put out something else?