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What feed to put out when the land has horses?

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Gutzdigger

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The landowner has horses and wont let us put out feeders with corn. He had one get into some grain and almost died. Is there anything else we can feed to draw the birds into our area without hurting the horses?
 
You could try using a turkey feeder like the one H.S. makes, they sell for about $100 last time I checked. The holes are only big enough for a turkey's head to enter. They might drop some on the ground but would probably eat that too. They fit under a 55 gal. drum. All you need then is the plastic funnel to put on the inside of the drum. Maybe buy some posts and wire to put up a fenced area around the feeder.... the turkeys could go under the wire and it would keep the horses out.
 
InfoMan said:
Might want to read this one "200 turkeys POISONED!!!! "
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YEP! I dont know if alfatoxins played a role in that deal or not but alfatoxins from corn that turkey hunters put out to kill their limit over can do alot of harm. An old fart used to feed 200 pounds a week next to a farm I hunt, of course he would kill a gobbler every day over it until he get his limit so he thought he was doing great. One Spring though alfatoxin got in the corn and killed ALOT of turkeys. That area went from being covered in turkeys to having virtually none. The old man died though and now the turkeys are starting to come back but there isnt even a 1/4 of what there was before that old peckerwood unintentionally poisoned them by feeding corn to hunt over.
 
Thanks guys for your replies and be assured we wouldn't do anything illegal. We just have a small place with areas around us being hunted hard too. Looking for that edge that might get the birds into our land and keep them there longer. Last season they were roosting here but have moved out for some reason. maybe they will be back without any help. Don't know! I guess we'll see Thanks again for your help. GUTZ
 
Gutzdigger said:
Thanks guys for your replies and be assured we wouldn't do anything illegal. We just have a small place with areas around us being hunted hard too. Looking for that edge that might get the birds into our land and keep them there longer. Last season they were roosting here but have moved out for some reason. maybe they will be back without any help. Don't know! I guess we'll see Thanks again for your help. GUTZ
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turkeys have been studied and known to travel distances up to 30 miles during periods depending on flock dynamics. in the fall its all about food, protection of poults. in the spring its all about mating, nesting and food being last. if you have prime nesting habitat they will be there come spring. i have very few turkeys if any in fall and winter but come spring they start moving in and get ready for nesting. i have 5 fields in CRP, hardwoods, 3 ponds, 1 main creek and they absolutely love the CRP fields for nesting. i dont put out feed of any kind and this land still holds at least 6-8 gobblers a season. before i put this in the CRP program i had never saw a turkey on this land.
 
steven stone said:
InfoMan said:
Might want to read this one "200 turkeys POISONED!!!! "
Click to expand...

YEP! I dont know if alfatoxins played a role in that deal or not but alfatoxins from corn that turkey hunters put out to kill their limit over can do alot of harm. An old fart used to feed 200 pounds a week next to a farm I hunt, of course he would kill a gobbler every day over it until he get his limit so he thought he was doing great. One Spring though alfatoxin got in the corn and killed ALOT of turkeys. That area went from being covered in turkeys to having virtually none. The old man died though and now the turkeys are starting to come back but there isnt even a 1/4 of what there was before that old peckerwood unintentionally poisoned them by feeding corn to hunt over.
Click to expand...
You know Steven, I still have a problem buying into the aflatoxin deal. My real problem with the theory is explaining why every cornfield around is not overflowing with aflatoxins. Think about it, when someone is feeding corn it is usually fresh dry corn, whereas the corn that remains in a harvested corn field becomes moldy and I would assume subject to aflatoxins in a very short time. And obviously cut corn fields are a turkey magnet. So why is that wet, moldy corn OK and the fresh dry corn that someone feeds poison?
 
4onaside said:
I still have a problem buying into the aflatoxin deal. My real problem with the theory is explaining why every cornfield around is not overflowing with aflatoxins. Think about it, when someone is feeding corn it is usually fresh dry corn, whereas the corn that remains in a harvested corn field becomes moldy and I would assume subject to aflatoxins in a very short time. And obviously cut corn fields are a turkey magnet. So why is that wet, moldy corn OK and the fresh dry corn that someone feeds poison?
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First off the corn left in the field after harvest is not wet and does not mold real fast. When corn is harvested the weather is usually still warm and dry and if the moisture is high it is around 22% and the moisture is on the inside. The high moisture corn is the early harvested when the weather is even hotter and dryer. To add to that it is spread out over the ground and will dry quick because it gets plenty of air and is not in direct contact with dirt. When corn is pored out on the ground in piles it holds moisture inside the pile on the outside of the grain. Even when spread out on the ground in winter the feeding areas is moist and the feeder holds moisture. When corn is bagged for deer feed for places like Wal Mart it is the cheap poor quality grain. To help show my point get 2 loafs of bread spread 1 out on the counter and leave the other in the bag in a corner. The bread on the counter will dry before it molds, not so with the bread in the bag.
 
DWM said:
4onaside said:
I still have a problem buying into the aflatoxin deal. My real problem with the theory is explaining why every cornfield around is not overflowing with aflatoxins. Think about it, when someone is feeding corn it is usually fresh dry corn, whereas the corn that remains in a harvested corn field becomes moldy and I would assume subject to aflatoxins in a very short time. And obviously cut corn fields are a turkey magnet. So why is that wet, moldy corn OK and the fresh dry corn that someone feeds poison?
Click to expand...

First off the corn left in the field after harvest is not wet and does not mold real fast. When corn is harvested the weather is usually still warm and dry and if the moisture is high it is around 22% and the moisture is on the inside. The high moisture corn is the early harvested when the weather is even hotter and dryer. To add to that it is spread out over the ground and will dry quick because it gets plenty of air and is not in direct contact with dirt. When corn is pored out on the ground in piles it holds moisture inside the pile on the outside of the grain. Even when spread out on the ground in winter the feeding areas is moist and the feeder holds moisture. When corn is bagged for deer feed for places like Wal Mart it is the cheap poor quality grain. To help show my point get 2 loafs of bread spread 1 out on the counter and leave the other in the bag in a corner. The bread on the counter will dry before it molds, not so with the bread in the bag.
Click to expand...
I understand, and agree with, your anology with the bread. However, the corn that I have seen in harvested corn fields does come in contact with dirt. And all of this aflatoxin talk it seems to me is assuming that the corn is dumped in piles, not broadcast over a rather wide area, and that it is always put in place during the wet season. I acknowledge that the corn would likely become tainted under those conditions. But, if you broadcast CO-OP corn, that is certified corn, when it is dry, then I can't see that there is any particular aflatoxin exposure. With me this is theory anyway, since I don't bait turkeys. But if I did, and did it under the conditions that I mention, I would not be particularly fearful of poisoning my turkeys, well, except for the desired lead poisoning.
 
4onaside said:
But, if you broadcast CO-OP corn, that is certified corn, when it is dry, then I can't see that there is any particular aflatoxin exposure. With me this is theory anyway, since I don't bait turkeys. But if I did, and did it under the conditions that I mention, I would not be particularly fearful of poisoning my turkeys, well, except for the desired lead poisoning.
Click to expand...

Under the conditions you describe the problem with aflatoxins would probably be low if you hand spread it and do not use a bulk feeder. The problem is if it was legal to bait the majority of people would go pour it out in a pile a few weeks before season just to hunt over and will not do what you describe. Our weather is different here than in TX. Feeders here will collect and hold more moisture so the problem can still be there even with feeders spreading it out. Farmers use bulk feeders for cattle but they are emptied and refilled in a short time span so the grain doesn't stay in there long. Cattle feed also has salt and mineral added most of the time.
 
funny how people think about feeding right before the season. If you are concerned about attracting wildlife you need a year round plan. Not a gun is loaded lets go shoot one plan. If you want to just shoot one go buy one and put it out there and shoot it.
 
Geez, I started a real catfight here Guys. You need to take a chill pill. I hope you are friends cause its not fun arguing with enemys. Nobody wins. I just wanted some expert advise. Thanks for the information. The rest you can keep. See Ya in the field. I'll Be the one setting on the Bag of Corn LOL
 
Gutzdigger said:
Geez, I started a real catfight here Guys. You need to take a chill pill. I hope you are friends cause its not fun arguing with enemys. Nobody wins. I just wanted some expert advise. Thanks for the information. The rest you can keep. See Ya in the field. I'll Be the one setting on the Bag of Corn LOL
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i wouldnt sit on a bag of corn you might get attacked by the horses. :)
 

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