Welcoming Wild Turkeys to the McGill Farm
Thanksgiving is a notable holiday for giving thanks for our many blessings, and where — for our family — visions of feasts (rather than sugarplums) are dancing in our heads.
Typically, these feasts focus on the traditional domesticated bird —the turkey.
At the McGill homestead, we welcome wild turkeys year round…and that’s no gobbledygook!
In today’s post, I’ll share some interesting information about our native bird…the wild turkey.
What Wild Turkeys Like to Eat
Our wild turkeys meander around in the fields and near the ponds, foraging for food. They are “omnivores” meaning they have a diet that is both plant-based and animal-based (mainly small fish, lizards, etc.), all of which are abundant food sources on our farm.
How Wild Turkeys Look and Act
Wild turkeys are magnificent, beautiful birds that like to roost in a line of oak and pine trees that border our fenceline. Males, called toms, can have over 5000 feathers, including 18 tail feathers that make up their distinct “fan.” 
I’m most aware of their presence during the daytime when I hear our Great pyrenees dogs bark excitedly at the sight of them or, alternatively, the sound of “gobble, gobble, gobble” of an adult male communicating with his hen, particularly when love is in the air in the spring.
A flock or “rafter” of wild turkeys are a beautiful representation of a mother’s love for her young. The males don’t have much to do with the young babies or “poults” after hatching. They are polygamous and may mate with many females within a season, whereas it is unlikely that the hen will mate with more than one male.
Amazingly, within 24 hours of being hatched, the babies are up and foraging, and it’s entirely up to Mom to keep the youngsters safe until they learn to fly, which can take about four to five weeks.
It’s not unusual to see two or three hens with a dozen or so of their young foraging in the fields behind our house. They are so cute but look so vulnerable. And vulnerable they are.
I’ve noticed the count of poults go down with each passing day when the flock lingers in certain areas. Unfortunately, we have a lot of predators. Until they learn to fly, the young are particularly vulnerable.
Interesting facts about Wild Turkeys
Here are a few interesting facts about our native bird, the wild turkey, that may help you appreciate them more:
- They have strong legs and can run up to 25 miles per hour and fly up to speeds of 55 miles per hour. Going airborne, even if only for short distances, is their best defense against predators.
- They see in color and have a keen sense of hearing and taste. In the daytime, their vision is three times better than a human and covers 270 degrees. At night, their vision is poor; hence, roosting in trees is a wise choice. They also have a poor sense of smell.
- The wild turkey’s bald head and fleshy facial wattles can change color in seconds; head color can be red, pink, white or blue. When a male is excited, his head turns blue; when a tom is about to fight, his head turns red!
- The flap of skin that hangs down over a turkey’s bill is called a snood, and it can also change in color, size and shape.
Are Wild Turkeys Intelligent?
Well…most of your resources will say yes, and I would intend to agree. But, with that said, we have had at least two instances where a wild turkey will fly inside a fenced-in area (where no animals are currently being kept), and it can’t seem to figure out how to get out.
I arrived home late one afternoon to discover one poor turkey had been walking around inside a fenced-in area since I had left that morning.
I couldn’t believe it was still inside the fence, but observed it walking around repeatedly, trying to find an opening it could walk through.
Not knowing what else to do, I opened the gate to the fence and started walking toward the bird.
I could see it was frightened. The closer I got, the more agitated it become until…it took flight!
Right over the fence to safety into the trees!
Back from Near Extinction
Nearly becoming extinct from overhunting in the 1930s, wild turkeys have made an amazing comeback.
Today, they’re in every state, except Alaska, and thriving.
I’m happy, and thankful, that wild turkeys are still thriving on the McGill farm. 
And I hope that will continue to be true for many years to come.