When we first moved here, we were so excited to see the deer hanging out around the house. We put corn out in all the feeders around and soon realized the deer were a huge nuisance. A few of them were cute but a whole herd of them . . not so cute. They’re so destructive . . especially if you’re trying to grow an orchard and a garden. We put an 8′ fence around the orchard and an 8′ fence around the garden and we’ve fenced them out. So far, they have not jumped into the fence. So long as we have sufficient rain and there’s plenty for them to eat in the woods, they aren’t likely to go to the trouble to try to get into the gardens. Folks with high fence ranches keep the deer in with 8′ fencing so hopefully it will also keep them out.
Folks told us that turkeys had been very prevalent around here in the past but we didn’t see a single one the first couple of years we were here. Several times, along a roadside or out in a field around town, we would a whole group of them . . technically, it’s called a “rafter” of turkeys but that sounds weird! Early last year, we’d be outside and we’d say “Is that a turkey?” and then we began seeing a few of them.
Turkey
Vince has been throwing corn out in an opening in the woods that we can see from our front porch. The turkeys will come up there and get the corn and sometimes there’s a turkey and a deer out there sharing a snack.
We were gone most of the day Monday and Vince was busy and never got around to putting corn out and just before dusk, we looked out and there were two turkeys right off our front porch. I told Vince . . you didn’t put corn out and they’re looking for you!
Turkey
The chickens are watching them. I was taking pictures through the window again.
Turkey
Both the ones in the yard Monday were hens. It’s turkey season but only for Toms and I doubt Vince would shoot any of the ones that hang around the house.
They eat grasshoppers so I’m happy to have as many of them as want to hang around. This one even stopped and took a drink from the bird bath.
Turkey
They go over the 8′ fences with ease and if they get into my garden . . then we may be having turkey for dinner!
Maggie says
A friend of mine that feeds birds in the suburbs was asking what to feed the turkeys. The guy at the feed store told her don’t feed them, because they will knock on your door for food once you start. I guess he was right. Your turkeys came looking for Vince!
Donna Keating says
Your posts and pictures about the garden, fruit trees and the wildlife on your place mean a lot to me. They remind me of my grandparent’s place near Santa Anna. We spent many hours in the woods or at the stock tank, or watching hundreds of hummingbirds at the feeders and various birds in the bath. The men had strict orders not to shoot the turkeys because grandma enjoyed feeding and watching them in her driveway. Their garden was hard work but produced wonderful food. Thanks for prodding these memories from my crazy mind.
Diana says
LOL they are coming for ya Vince.. We don’t have deer that come around thank goodness.. But neighbors have told us there have been herds of deer and elk that roam the ditch roads behind houses. We finally have hummingbirds coming in again this year.
Wildlife once they catch a sucker; they have you forever ingrained in their brains and expect a treat for sure. This sucker has to get the 5 hummingbird feeders ready, oh yeah and I can’t forget to get stuff for the birds to help make their nests. Water baths are filled, I feel like I have forgotten something .. Hmmm.. I will think of it later on !LOL 🙂