Turkey hunting forum for turkey hunting tips

General Discussion => General Forum => Topic started by: TalknTurkey on May 05, 2021, 03:53:54 PM

Title: Opinions on a strange looking turkey
Post by: TalknTurkey on May 05, 2021, 03:53:54 PM
I have a buddy that lives in a suburb area along a river. He sent me these pictures last March of this group of turkeys that he had seen around his property.

(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210505/4789d0e2f19fe290efbedf2adfbfbad8.jpg)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210505/1fe7548b673a1a1c4395af9bdcef9040.jpg)

Well in the past week, one of the white ones has returned and is just hanging out around his house. It's sleeping in his driveway and following them into their house from the car. It just seems so bizarre!!

After looking at the pictures he sent me, it appears to be a bearded hen. The ones I've seen over the years have pencil beards like that and I don't see any spurs. My first reaction was they were domestic turkeys that got out of someone's pen.

I actually suggested he contact his local DNR because I thought domestic turkeys weren't supposed to get out into the wild due to risk of transmitting disease. But he said he called and the CO wasn't concerned and his opinion was it was wild. So what do you guys think? Is it really a wild turkey or is it an ultra rare albino bearded hen that just happens to think it's a pet?

(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210505/827e7281744e6222a81f8279226c2af8.jpg)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210505/408145a35d0cb42e0e0c59a1ca4a1418.jpg)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210505/026ec01356a7335093d0802eb0b973d5.jpg)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210505/85e8559a108ee34c52e67e351fdcedd4.jpg)
Title: Re: Opinions on a strange looking turkey
Post by: bigriverbum on May 05, 2021, 04:03:49 PM
i have no answers for you but i'm crying laughing at the sleeping picture
Title: Opinions on a strange looking turkey
Post by: TalknTurkey on May 05, 2021, 04:06:34 PM
Quote from: bigriverbum on May 05, 2021, 04:03:49 PM
i have no answers for you but i'm crying laughing at the sleeping picture
I know, right?! When he sent me that I thought he'd hit it with his truck and it was dead haha...the whole situation just seems so crazy!
Title: Re: Opinions on a strange looking turkey
Post by: bigriverbum on May 05, 2021, 04:17:02 PM
this bird is like the first wolf that came into man's fire 200,000 years ago. 

won't be long til it's ancestors are miniature sized and yelp at the mailman
Title: Re: Opinions on a strange looking turkey
Post by: guesswho on May 05, 2021, 04:37:05 PM
Could be wrong, but built like a barnyard bird to me.
Title: Re: Opinions on a strange looking turkey
Post by: Ozarks Hillbilly on May 05, 2021, 05:01:16 PM
Looks like a domestic turkey to me.

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Opinions on a strange looking turkey
Post by: Cowboy on May 05, 2021, 05:05:07 PM
Quote from: guesswho on May 05, 2021, 04:37:05 PM
Could be wrong, but built like a barnyard bird to me.
I agree. Legs seem short to me as well.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Opinions on a strange looking turkey
Post by: ol bob on May 05, 2021, 06:11:43 PM
Looks like a Royal Palm to me.
Title: Re: Opinions on a strange looking turkey
Post by: Meleagris gallopavo on May 05, 2021, 06:30:53 PM
Looks like 2 wild jakes with them.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Opinions on a strange looking turkey
Post by: Mossberg90MN on May 05, 2021, 09:23:29 PM
I would say 2 domestic birds.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Opinions on a strange looking turkey
Post by: TonyTurk on May 05, 2021, 09:35:24 PM
Maybe a cross between a domestic bird and a wild bird?
Title: Re: Opinions on a strange looking turkey
Post by: CAPTJJ on May 05, 2021, 09:55:45 PM
As mentioned, they look like Royal Palm hens.
Title: Opinions on a strange looking turkey
Post by: TalknTurkey on May 05, 2021, 10:46:47 PM
Thanks guys, I passed along that information to him. He said the CO's rationale for thinking it was wild was due to it's small size and having too much other color in it. But I googled Royal Palm and looked at some pictures of them and they have black mixed in with them also so I think you guys may be right!
Title: Re: Opinions on a strange looking turkey
Post by: silvestris on May 06, 2021, 09:57:14 PM
Feet look a bit large to me.