
- Make your garden less friendly. This means keeping your lawn cut short so there’s no grass seed to feed wandering turkeys and making sure that dense bushes and other vegetation are pruned and thinned. ...
- Remove temptation. If you’ve got a small garden, you can cover it with a wire pen or build a high fence to keep the turkeys out. ...
- Harass lingering birds. ...
How do I keep wild turkeys away from my home?
How do I keep turkeys away from my property? It's easy to scare turkeys away by making noises (try waving your arms and yelling or blowing a whistle), popping open an umbrella, throwing tennis balls, or dousing the turkey with water from a hose or squirt gun. A leashed dog may also be effective in scaring a turkey away. Click to see full answer.
How to keep wild turkeys off your property?
Our main suggestions to deter turkeys are as follows:
- Figure out what’s attracting them and take it away if possible. They may be getting fallen seed from a birdfeeder, or berries from your blackberry bushes. ...
- Use flash tape. One product we like is https://www.niteguard.com/how-it-works/how-it-works-nite-guard-repellent-tape-not-your-ordinary-flash-tape. ...
- Get a Scarecrow Sprinkler. ...
- Act scary! ...
How do you repel wild turkeys?
Managing wild turkey pests is most effective when you do these things:
- Make your garden less friendly. This means keeping your lawn cut short so there’s no grass seed to feed wandering turkeys and making sure that dense bushes and other vegetation ...
- Remove temptation. If you’ve got a small garden, you can cover it with a wire pen or build a high fence to keep the turkeys out. ...
- Harass lingering birds. ...
How to attract turkeys to your land?
More Ways to Attract Wild Turkeys
- Create a large, wide dust bath where the turkeys can dust and preen safely and conveniently.
- Minimize the use of insecticides or herbicides that would decrease the availability of natural turkey foods.
- Provide a low stump or boulder for a guard perch so turkeys can watch for threats.

What smell deters turkeys?
Primarily, birds dislike really strong smells because they find them quite irritating. These include peppermint oil, citronella, lemon, cayenne pepper, chili, garlic and vinegar. By using this information, we can apply these strong scents to areas that we want the birds to stay away from.
Will moth balls keep turkeys away?
Mothballs aren't only limited to moths, but also meant to repel other animals, such as wild turkeys.
How do you deal with nuisance turkeys?
Don't let turkeys intimidate you Don't hesitate to scare or threaten a bold, aggressive turkey with loud noises, swatting with a broom or water sprayed from a hose. A dog on a leash is also an effective deterrent. Turkeys that repeatedly challenge or attack people may ultimately have to be destroyed.
Will turkeys destroy a garden?
Wild turkeys foraging for food in residential areas can destroy landscapes and gardens, leave their droppings on sidewalks and patios, and have been known to roost on cars, scratching the paint. During breeding season in spring, turkeys can be particularly aggressive, charging and attacking people.
What are turkey's afraid of?
Noises and Other Disturbances As a result of sharing space with hawks, raccoons and the occasional badger, turkeys have developed an instinctive avoidance of loud noises. You can take advantage of this aversion by making some kind of noisemaker that will be loud enough to spook the birds from across the lawn.
What do wild turkeys hate?
Scare away problem turkeys It's easy to scare turkeys away by making noises (try waving your arms and yelling or blowing a whistle), popping open an umbrella, throwing tennis balls, or dousing the turkey with water from a hose or squirt gun. A leashed dog may also be effective in scaring a turkey away.
What attracts wild turkeys to your property?
Turkeys love acorns and pecans, as well as dogwoods, huckleberries, blueberries, and other fruits found in the understory. Planting food plots: Follow these tips to establish food plots as a supplement to natural forage. Food plots can also be used to increase turkey sightings and harvest success.
Where do turkeys go during the day?
First, turkeys are on the move more than at any other time of day since early morning. In most habitats, turkeys make a circuit out from a roost area, spend the late morning and afternoon hours in loafing cover or other seclusion, then work back toward roost sites as the day wanes.
Do turkeys bite humans?
Turkeys Will Fight You Turkeys follow a strict pecking order and are known to attack birds and even people they deem subordinate, especially during the spring mating season. People who have suffered turkey attacks recommend not looking the birds in the eye.
Do turkeys eat vegetable gardens?
In their quest for the insects that make up part of their diet, turkeys will scratch around in your grass and through your flowerbeds. Their big feet can do a lot of incidental damage. They eat greens, too, and they don't limit themselves to dandelions when your garden has so many goodies in it.
Will turkeys come back after you shoot at them?
Typically, a bird that is fatally injured by a shotgun won't travel far. Most turkeys are recovered within about a 200-yard radius. The best place to start your search is right where you shot the bird.
What does it mean when turkeys are in your yard?
Encountering turkeys is often considered a sign of prosperity. For the land to sustain a flock of turkeys, there must be food and water plentiful enough to feed the flock. A turkey encounter can be a source of guidance. If a turkey approaches you, it means that you have a gentle and trustworthy soul.
What kind of animals do mothballs keep away?
Mothballs are classified as a pesticide and used to control moths, silverfish and other fiber pests in wool and other natural fiber clothing and materials. Mothballs should only be used as specified on the label, and their use is regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Do moth balls keep birds away?
Another home remedy often said to get rid of birds or to keeep away vultures are chemicals found at home, and these will often be ammonia or mothballs, which will then be placed in bowls in the areas where the birds are a problem.
Do animals hate the smell of mothballs?
Outdoors. Mothballs are occasionally thrown in gardens and lawns to keep away pets and other animals. However, mothballs are ineffective in repelling wildlife in outdoor areas such as rats, mice, squirrels, bats, snakes, or other wildlife.
What keeps Bush turkeys Away?
To deter Brush Turkeys, try planting low growing native plants to provide thick ground cover. Put some tree guards around small or newly-established plants to protect them until they get big enough, and spread some river gravel around the base of trees and plants to protect the roots.
How do I get rid of brush turkeys?
How To Get Rid Of Brush Turkeys In The Garden. When it comes to getting rid of brush turkeys from your garden, a multi-prong strategy is the best way to go about it. This is because apart from fencing the harden with high walls or calling pest control experts to remove them, no single strategy has proven effective against ...
How to attract brush turkeys to a nest?
You could try establishing the perfect breeding ground at a different location in the garden. Build a compost mound under a tree with good shade. This should attract the resident brush turkey to that area and ultimately use the compost mound to build the breeding nest.
Why are brush turkeys important?
Conclusion. Brush turkeys play a vital role when it comes to natural pest control. In gardens and woodland habitats, they control the proliferation of insects and grubs by preying on them. Also, their feces help to disperse native vegetation seeds.
What are the attractions of a garden?
Other attractions found in gardens are mulch and compost heap. And you can’t discount the food sources that make a garden an idyllic environment for breeding. They would feast on food left outside for pets such as cats and dogs like chicken pellets or biscuits. There have been several reported cases of the birds chasing away or attacking pets to get at their food.
How long does it take for a brush turkey to come back?
This method has variable success rates. In many instances, the brush turkeys come back after a few weeks when, hopefully, the lifter has broken down and no longer gives off bad smells.
How to keep a mound from swarming?
Try and restrict access to the mound with a heavy-duty tarpaulin weighed down with stones. A black plastic or shade cloth can be used too.
Why is killing birds not an option?
To be clear, killing them is not an option because, like most wildlife, they are protected birds.
How to get rid of birds in my yard?
They may find food they like in your garden. Determine what is attracting the birds to your yard and make it less accessible by removing food sources, putting up fencing, or pruning and clearing brush. 2. Use flash tape. ...
What is the number to call about wild turkeys?
Photo by Chris Coughlin. Late fall is the time of year that WildCare’s Living with Wildlife Hotline 415-456-7283 sees a spike in the number of calls about Wild Turkeys.
How to get rid of a swarm of birds?
They may be getting fallen seed from a birdfeeder, or berries from your blackberry bushes. Your neighbors may be feeding them, attracting them to the area. They may find comfortable roosting spots in your bushes or on low branches in your trees, or your roof may make a comfortable roosting spot. They may find food they like in your garden. Determine what is attracting the birds to your yard and make it less accessible by remo ving food sources, putting up fencing, or pruning and clearing brush.
Do turkeys roost on the roof?
But a large flock of turkeys roosting on your roof may not be your first choice.
Can dogs keep turkeys out of my garden?
Yes, I think having dogs is probably the best way to keep the turkeys out. I'm glad they're not doing any damage in your garden. moonlake from America on November 19, 2011: We have wild turkeys here but I didn't realize they would mess up my garden but why not the garden is always full of bugs.
Do turkeys rake up mulch?
Needless to say, the turkeys don't mind tearing up any young plants while they are trying to rake up your garden mulch and likewise they have become the nemesis of many a gardener over here too.
How to keep turkeys safe from predators?
Provide a roosting area if possible. Keep them inside at night to provide more control over parasites and keep them safe from predators. Turkeys are social birds, so plan to spend time with them while you’re outside. Allow one square foot of space for the young birds, up until they’re two months of age.
How long does it take for a turkey to grow?
If you’re growing the bird for a holiday feast, check the time needed for maturity. Most breeds need 14-22 weeks to grow into a mature and edible stage.
Why are the nutritional needs of turkey and turkey different?
Nutrient needs of the two are quite different because controlling the protozoa that causes coccidiosis is different in each bird. Purchase them from a certified breeder. Those sold at feed stores may be from a certified nursery or maybe not. Make sure to ask so you’ll start off with a healthy turkey poult.
Can you have turkeys in your backyard?
Turkeys in your backyard are a fun experience after they get through the most difficult few weeks.
Do turkey eggs have both types of birds?
Some flocks contain both type of birds. Turkey eggs are bigger and offer a different flavor experience. Perhaps you want to raise a couple of the large birds for upcoming holiday meals or, conversely, keep them as pets.
Can you substitute chicken starter food for turkey?
Turkeys need a high-protein turkey starter food for the first six weeks. It is not acceptable to substitute chicken starter food. Nutrient needs of the two are quite different because controlling the protozoa that causes coccidiosis is different in each bird.
