They like sunflower seeds. They don't come in our yard too often but when they do, they clean up under the birdfeeders.
They gobble, gobble, gobble, but they don't crow - lol.

I have read that they will eat tender shoots on shrubs, so you may want to discourage them if natural food sources are scarce. Or feed them corn or sunflowers, but far away from the shrubs.
Pam

Hi Ken,
You will definitely want to keep them at bay,they are so fun to watch,but any kind of seed,close to your hosta,and they will make coleslaw out of them,happened to me a few years ago,we had a bird feeder hanging above one of the hosta beds,and sweet little turkey girl came a scratchin,they root just like a chicken will do, looking for a juicy bug,or seed,and believe me,they will have your hosta shredded before you can run them of.(Just look at their feet)
We moved the feeder,and now put seed in the gravel drive way for her,but nothing even close to my hostas.We only have the one old girl,i can't even imagine a whole flock of them.So cool to watch, but be careful.
Carol

Ken....flock of turkeys.....herd or cows or sheep...or deer.LOL!

"wild" turkeys are becoming tamer and a nuisance due to the mixing of the gene pool with stupid and tame domestic birds....sort of like Canada geese....they have become the starlings of our era.

And a gaggle of geese a murder of crows a pod of whales....
I love collective nouns!
Linda C

I've had Carol's experience. A Turkey shredded a hosta -- fortunately it was only an aureo-marginata. Now I've taught my German Shepherd to chase them out of the yard. Nancy

Like the others said they like cleaning up under feeders. My feeders are hanging maybe 4 feet away from my hosta and they have never disturbed them. I get flocks of them every year at different times during the year. Sometimes everyday, then I don't see them for a month and then they are back again. They don't bother me at all. I love watching the mating ritual with the male strutting his stuff and fanning out his feathers. It is really cool to see. Last year I got to see the babies with their moms foraging under my feeders. Personally I find it pleasurable having them around.

Did you know wild turkeys can fly? Not for long distances but they can and they can damage your car just as bad as a deer should they hit your car.
For those of you who have them around due to your feeders please be careful. Around here many residence had turkeys who shortly were replaced by bears coming around and not just feeding on feeders but trying to break into homes to get more food.

I find it pleasurable to have them come around also,they really are fun to watch,BUT,if you have an expensive hosta collection,you may want to think twice.
Maybe they would not hurt any thing if you do not have a bird feeder for them to go to,i don't know.All i do know is, they made coleslaw out of my hosta in no time flat.
Carol

Hey! this is not Thanksgiving!! shoot them now and then put them in your freezer!! (but they will be fatter in the fall) or go pee all over your garden to scare them off (you might want to do this after the sun goes down tho)

LOL

Paul

I thought the way to get rid of Wild Turkey was to drink it.

A few years ago, we had two adults and 15 babies for the summer. They wandered from bird feeder to bird feeder, but I dont believe I ever saw them eating in my gardens.

I was fine with them until they all decided to sunbathe on my patio table!

Amateur. Try a yard full the these plant label pulling out critters! My guests all winter long.

Datdog, LOL LOL LOL

I'm still chuckling. Makes me think of the Grim Reaper standing there with his dark hooded robe and scythe.

Lucky you for having such unusual unwanted guests.

Connie

Dem is black vultures... Now I suppose the only thing worse than these and turkeys are turkey vultures!

Did someone say turkey vultures? Got them too but they are very shy and don't come down in the yard often.

I'm so use to seeing them that they are just part of the winter landscape. They are funny as heck and remind me of a bunch of naughty children. They are into EVERYTHING and it seems to me that they think anything in the yard is a toy.

Critter-ridder-

I like the liquid kind too.

-Babka

We get them (wild turkeys) here in the city (Boston) and its immediate suburbs, though the closest I have seen one from my house is around 1/3 mile, so I have no idea what they do to a garden.

Watch out for groups of them around this time of year more than at other times of year -- now is around the end of their mating season, I believe. Some of them -- e.g., in Brookline, MA -- have been known to be quite aggressive, chasing after people and attacking cars. (!!!)

If one starts after you, stand up tall and wave your hands at him and make lots of noise. That'll usually cause them to turn around.

I've seen others spend at least five minutes chasing each other around-and-around a utility pole. Entertaining.

Ben Franklin was right, we should've made them our national bird!

Here in the towns in eastern NY turkeys come to the houses. I had a flock inside my fenced-in back yard. When trying to get out of there a young one could not fly over the 4ft fence for a great while, the others were long gone by then.

Our National Bird? with that small brain, and they can not fly well?