We have a spaniel/basset/terrier/mutt pup who is shaping up to be one GREAT dog. She's figured out the ducks, and hasn't bothered the horses. The rooster taught her about chickens. Very good at barking alerts so we are hoping for the best. I am partial to mutts and smaller breeds, though I've seen German short-haired pointers, Irish setters and great danes who were great farm/guard dogs. The Irish setter was a real sweet heart of a dog. If you like small dogs, there are rat terriers and miniture pinchers that are bred to be farm dogs. They may not be able to kill a coon, but they can certainly let you know that there is trouble in the coop. It depends on if you want the dog to alert you to trouble or take care of the problem for you. One of my magazines had an article about bringing back the farm collie, a mixed breed with a standard collie base. There are a lot of border collies around here that people swear by as the perfect farm dog. They aren't good city dogs, too work-a-holic. I'd love to have one to round up the critters at night for me. Years ago I had a collie/shepard who was nearly perfect on the farm, but when we moved to the city, she became too protective, hated men and children. I gave her to a lady who had a fenced in yard. The dog has thwarted 5 burgleries that her owner is sure of, and warded of numerous unfriendlies. Our Jack Russell has too much prey drive, and he's pretty quiet for a jack. He was six when we moved here, he stays in the house. Catching mice is his speciality, he's a quick killer. He can't resist ducklings, and the chickens were in grave danger until the Rooster came into his own. Once the Rooster matured he gave the dog "what for" every day for a week before the dog gave up. According to urban legends around here, the dog most likely to savage it's owner is the cocker spaniel. Go figure?

I'm pretty sure if they have babies they won't be in a flock. The hens go off by themselves when they raise them so maybe you should be just as wary if you see a single hen. I'd never heard of anyone being attacked but will be more cautious myself now. Gardenweed is right, they're BIG when their wings are outstretched. I pulled in my driveway once and one flew up in front of my car only a couple feet from my windshield and I nearly had a heart attack. lol I haven't had any damage in my garden that I know of but don't have as many as you. I see them in our field but they rarely come up in my yard. I suspect they could wipe out a lot of seedlings in a hurry if they thought they looked appetizing but rabbits can too. Turkeys DO eat grasshoppers and that's a big plus. I wonder if they eat ticks. (hope so) It's still amazing to me how common they are now. Ten or twelve years ago, I had never seen a wild turkey at all. Now I see them almost daily if I'm out driving. Loved the videos. I think all the "attacks" were just people being followed. I'd be running too. lol Hope they won't flog you the way a rooster can. That's something to take seriously. Good luck Docmom. I think you may need to protect your seedlings with wire mesh or something. It might be easier to plant them out in a nursery bed for awhile spaced closely so they're easier to protect. Or at least protect your most precious seedlings until you get an idea of how destructive the turkeys and other critters are going to be.

rhizo_1- Makes sense to post in the wildlife forum... sorry about the categorization! I was so infuriated at the time I posted this that I had a hard time getting past using only very nasty words to describe the feathered terrorists; "pest" was the very nicest of them. I contacted my local Fish and Game office and left a message. Hopefully something can be done about the darn birds. Kimmsr- I never knew that! Thanks for the info. I guess I never thought of it, as birds (particularly my chickens) have their favorite foods, but you learn something every day. I guess the garlic slop I made yesterday and spread around won't do much. At least it's a conversation starter, as the smell of garlic is wafting around all the flower beds. The creepy garden tactics will have to wait for the deer to come down from the hills in a few months =) Thanks for the help!

Dirtgirl, That is sooooo cool that you live in an area has has wild turkeys. I'm envious! Pretty soon, your husband will probably be eligible for his turkey badge!