I haven't ever had to keep turkeys out, but you could try sprinkling red cayan pepper around your containers. The turkeys probably won't like the red pepper taste.

Chicken wire - it's the all purpose duct tape of animal prevention. Works for moles, beaver, deer, groundhogs, squirrels and probably turkey.

wish I COULD do the chix wire...unfortunately, I was lucky enough that they let me leave 125 milk jugs out there behind the building (tidy-little-business-development). They'll not hear of a chicken-wire fence- sigh. Cayenne pepper, huh? Where does one GET that in bulk?

I don't think the cayenne pepper will work on turkeys. Birds can't feel the hotness of peppers, that's why it is mixed with bird seed to keep the squirrels from eating it. I know someone who had a parrot that loved jalapeño pepper seeds.

Karen

Thanksgiving dinner in May?

Karen

Sorry I don't have any advice other than agreeing with Karen,
SHE DECIDED TO STAND ON THEM ALL AND WALK ALL OVER THEM TO GET TO THE ONES IN THE BACK!

Sounds a bit like she maybe doing her own version of a happy dance.

Well, you can buy cayenne pepper in bulk at BJs in the spice section. But if birds are fed it and eat it, then it probably won't work.

Do you have any pink flamingos? I'm not sure how many of these suggestions your boss might tolerate, but note #5

1) Polypropylene bird netting (available in ¾ in. and ½ in. mesh) is often used to protect fruit trees, berry bushes, shrubs, and home gardens.
2) Reflective colorful "flash tape" can be attached to stakes, tree limbs, or trellises. The tape reflects sunlight and flutters and twinkles in the wind.
3) Motion-activated scarecrows connected to water sprinklers have been used to repel dogs, raccoons, and large birds from gardens.
4) Aggressive dogs tethered on a long leash .
5) Turkeys will recognize changes in their immediate surroundings. Once they are accustomed to an area, they may be frightened by changes in its appearance. Rope, thick wire, or unusual objects placed in or around a garden may serve the same effect. These objects should be moved around frequently to obtain the best deterrent effect.

The chicken wire is not for building a fence but to lay down over seed containers for cover. Critters will not walk on the wire for fear of getting tanglede in it. Works great in my flower beds. Even deteers cats from doing their pottie digs. jim

oooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!! I get it.

mmqchdygg

This must be wild turkeys? My pets love greens and bugs, meaning pet turkeys. They love flies to eat. They are not real bright, casue well they are turkeys. If you can put down some loose chicken wire over your containers it may help.

ML

I had a bird feeder hanging,the seed from the birdes fell on the ground and we had a turkey come along and SCRATCH, for the seed,unfortunatly,the fallen seed went into one of my prized hosta,yep! turkey made cole slaw out of that hosta,you just would not belive the damage one little turkey can do in a few seconds.

She still comes almost every day,i moved the feeder of course,she is fun to watch,but will scratch for seed,so be careful about that.

Last week i was planting some sunflower seed, she was out watching me, i didn't even know it,soon as i was done, she came running,i thought for sure she was going to scratch up my new seed, but i ran her off.A week later,seed still in ground.Whewwwwwwww.

I always throw fresh seed on the ground under the feeder so she goes to it right away and seems to be happy to leave my other things alone.

Carol

Odds are you are not going to be able to keep the turkey from those containers. I'd take a good guess that somewhere on the edge of the lot, in those woods, is the turkey nest.
If that is the case, then you have turkeys for the rest of the spring summer, into the fall.

You have employees eating outside, probably dropping food on the ground and giving the turkey a great place to gather food. In other words, a very happy, well fed turkey.

Chicken wire on top of the containers might help, but my experience with turkey invasions is nothing is going to keep them away from what they want.

The more comfortable they feel in their new found areas, the more bold they will become and if you get in the way, they will attack you.

I had a family of them nest in the woods in my back yard a few years ago and it was not a pleasant experience.
They where in my containers going after the soil and it was the ungerminated seeds they where after. new right where to go, which containers to get into and which ones had the "big, juicy seeds" to go after.

We tried balloons, metal pie plates, wind chimes, etc., nothing stopped them. The got all my blueberies, strawberries, raspberries and blackberries and when they where done with that, it was after the seeds on the plants.

And they didn't care if we where in the gardens or not, they would just come swooping in and get what they wanted. If we where in their way, they would go after us.
They got my neighbor's 4 year old son one day. He was helping me collect MG seeds and the turkeys wanted them. Next thing I knew, he was screaming and the his hand was in the turkey's beak. Lucky there was a rake near by for me to get and go after the turkey with. Poor little boy ended up with a broken hand and the turkey got away.

I would do everything I could to bring the containers home with me and get them away from the turkey. Otherwise you are risking damage from "turkey feet, turkey beaks and a nasty no win fight with it.

One thing I did learn though, usually turkeys return every year to best in the same location as the prior year.
For some reason, Mom and Dad did not return to my yard and I haven't seen any in the neighborhood since that one summer.

Fran