Wild Turkeys at the back yard feeder

[JohnK and Sheri]

We have one tom and two hen turkeys coming to eat the deer corn in the back yard. I am wondering if they will be consistent visitors during the summer months or is this just a winter thing? Hoping to see the chicks in the yard too.:) Anyone have them regularly year round?
And am I, as John suggests, crazy for hoping they stay?
Sheri

[Brent Bean]

In recent years wild Turkey have made a comeback in our area. Last fall I counted 14 turkey in my garden. No damage the garden was done for the season, they were eating seeds from rotten squash left overs.
Now when they moved over to my six beehives in the backyard I was about to let loose the dogs, but several suddenly made a quick retreat and the rest followed. So the bees must have put out the No Trespassing warning.

The dogs were bummed.:)

[Scrapfe]

We have one tom and two hen turkeys coming to eat...in the back yard. I am wondering if they will be consistent visitors...or is this just a winter thing? Hoping to see the chicks in the yard too....

No, depending on the local population, at this time of year wild turkeys "flock" up. I have seen flocks of turkeys with 200 or 300 hundred birds in them during this month. As the breeding season progresses the toms tend to break up into small groups and the hens get more secretive and scarce as they start looking for a nest sight and begin laying. Later you should see small groups of toms with the hens moving in and out of the group as their hearts and hormones dictate. Fall flocks are mostly unisex.

[standman]

It is possible and even fairly likely that the turkeys will become regulars. It is true (as previously posted) that turkeys (like deer) tend to flock (herd) up this time of year, mostly due to decreased availability of food. Your corn may become very popular, and you should see somewhat of a traffic jam during the next few weeks.
They will begin to break up into smaller groups in the next two months. The toms and hens will spend increasing amounts of time together as the days lengthen and breeding season nears. If turkeys are roosted near you, get out at daybreak and see if you hear gobbling or other tree talk. After breeding, the hen will leave the flock for some time each day to lay her egg. She lays about 12 eggs and then begins to incubate them. The poults are fairly active when they hatch, and it is very possible that you will see a lot of turkeys after hatching season. The hen will probably bring then back to visit your corn, but the turkey's diet during the summer is actually 80% bugs (grasshoppers are a favorite). I have never had them bother my hives.

[Keith Jarrett]

Sheri, got those turkeys everywhere at my shop, give them crack corn and they will come & stay.

P.S. your welcome John. :) anything else I can do to help. lol

[justin]

this time of year i see 30 to 50 at a time.summer i usually see groups of 5.had a tom on the mountain behind the house last summer during their courting season.whenever i would slam the door on my old truck he would answer.

[JohnK and Sheri]

Sheri, got those turkeys everywhere at my shop, give them crack corn and they will come & stay.
Keith are we talking about the same kind of turkeys?:D

Thanks for the replies, I am a bit more hopeful they will stay around. There are big flocks we see here too, in some of the farm fields, but not in the back yard. Maybe this threesome has "paired up" in anticipation of spring. I have my fingers crossed. Last summer we had a visit from a hen and maybe month old chicks, they are entertaining, hoping for a repeat.
Sheri