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.

Just a couple of miles from my house is a long streach of farmland. Open pastures, uncut woods. You can literally drive for miles and not see a house. There is a flock over there, I see them a lot when I'm passing thru to my house close to sunset. There must be between 30 and 40, we lost track last time we tried to count around 25. And they will cross the road in a flock, never paying attention to the car or to our intrusion. I also have the same thing going on with a lot of deer around here too. Broad daylight and they will just stand and stare at you. The turkeys are supposed to be shy, I had never seen but one before and I've been a pretty avid outdoorswoman all my life, riding horses, camping and on dirt bikes. I was so shocked, I just stopped in the middle of the road and watched them pass. I understand the population is getting much larger, maybe that has something to do with it. I'm no expert, but they look the same as the ones here.

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!