Turkey Poop: When the Problem Becomes a Solution

Recently, I have encountered a problem with the wild Turkeys coming around my bird feeders.  My knee-jerk reaction was that this is a big problem.  I didn’t want the turkeys and squirrels constantly emptying the bird feeders as it can start to get expensive.  As I contemplated solutions to the problem, some of which were probably less than legal; I decided to take the permaculture approach to my problem.

I started by observing the wild turkeys in action.  I noted that they were not actually bothering the feeder itself.  Instead, they were picking up what the smaller birds were dropping around the feeder.  I decided that wasn’t actually a problem.  Next, I noticed that they were in and around my young fruit trees, but they did not bother them.  Okay, no tree damage, no problem there.  Then I noticed something else; they are crapping on the snow!

The proverbial light bulb moment hit me.  I am always bringing in manure for garden beds and compost and what not.  But, the turkeys are willing to leave it here for a few pennies worth of seed.  So I have an area where I plan to plant some fruit trees in the spring.  Why not sparsely spread some seed over the crusty snow in this area.  Then the turkeys will come in and take their time to eat the seeds and crap all over the area while they are there.  Win, win situation!

This situation has shown me the importance of how a perceived problem may actually be a solution for something else.  Never act hastily in the moment and take some time to make observations and come up with solutions that adhere to the ethics.

Nate, that's a wonderful observation.

I have lots of feral turkeys in my area, and at times they work my farm, wandering through daily. At first I was annoyed, since they will eat the peas right out through the sides of the pods. They also like to top the young onion plants and nibble greens. After harvesting a particular annoying one for turkey tacos, I discovered that it's crop was full of slugs. Slugs!!! The crop contents was over half slugs, with the other half mostly weed and grass seeds plus a few green leafy stuff. While turkeys did indeed eat some of my garden, their primary target was slugs. Wow, I thought, that's great.

I modified my gardens to turkey-proof the crops I wanted to protect. The peas get lightweight row cover atop them when the pods start forming. The young onions (turkeys don't bother the larger plants) and Chinese greens get grown under lightweight movable hoops covered with bird netting.

My problem turkeys have turned out to be slug eating assets. Who would have guessed?

I welcome wildlife to come crap all over my yard. The only thing I don't want them doing is eating plants I want to eat. Even tearing up my compost piles is fine as long as they stay long enough to take a dump. :)

I have never paid so much attention to the amount and diversity of poop on my property until I became a Permie.

It is incredible the amount of scat that can be found on my homestead after I started putting in wildlife gardens/perennial beds. I'm not talking about so much to the point that you can't step anywhere without having a dirty foot but now I am more aware of what is actually on the ground.

I am planning on placing bird feeders into these beds in hopes of some of the manure providing volunteer plants to help increase the diversity outside of what I have encourage to grow. The only thing that I have in mind that is turkey specific that may be an issue is the bird's scratching habit. Maybe it could be an advantage?