Hello. Today it was/is pretty windy here and it got me to thinking.........Have any of you ever experienced turkeys roosting on the ground? I have heard that in New Zealand where there are no ground predators that they do. I have never seen it but this is probably for the Southerners. It is hard for me to think that in the midst of literal hurricane winds that turkeys take to the trees. Just wondering. Thanks.

Turkey legs lock when squatted on the limb...they can’t be blown away. I can take a leg off a turkey and push it down and lock it around your wrist and you won’t get it off unless I raise the leg.
It’s my understanding a hen will stay on the nest once chicks hatch and before they can fly. Once they can fly/flutter then they too will be perched up off the deck.

Hello. Yeah I knew hens ground nest at times. I wonder if a 90 mph hurricane wind is coming through if the turkeys will attempt and be successful at tree roosting or if they will stay on the ground? I just can't see how they could even fly up.?

they will roost lower in the trees when its windy, as was stated, when they squat the toes curl, they cannot let go of the limb un less they stand up.
RR

I’ve never seen or heard of one roosting on the ground, not to say it doesn’t happen.

I have chased spring turks for over 40 years now and cannot think of a time where I saw birds that had ground roosted...ever. I have been out in some pretty windy mornings too and they were in the trees any time I have ever seen. They will get out of the wind by getting on lower branches in valleys sometimes.

Around here they seem to go down in the deep ravines on windy nights.


Dan

Always seen them roasting in trees.Sometimes just a couple feet off the ground.

The gobbler I shot last year was crippled, and his foot was shriveled up. We saw him on the farm for 2 or 3 years, always limping and never with the flock. In all the years I saw him, I never saw him strut or even gobble. He walked lopsided, and I don’t think he was able to Fly very well. At times I would walk up on him, and he would try to hide himself the best he could. I always wondered if he roosted on the ground or was able to somehow make it into a tree. In my area, I couldn’t imagine a turkey lasting long on the ground with all our predators.

Once on a windy night and once after we spooked them coon hunting, I have seen turkeys in the road in the headlights.

I wouldn't think strong winds here would change their habit of roosting here, Where they roost is in heavy wind protection and on heavy branches. It can be very strong winds and yo get down in the bottoms with heavy cover timber etc. they don't change their places much if any during those time here in my area. They know where and how to pick roosts from weathah. JM2¢