Talking Teds
Teddy standing (or should I say hanging) guard by the entrance to the vegie garden against the bush turkeys
A good friend of mine had a problem with a Bush Turkey (also called Scrub Turkeys, Bush Chooks and I am sure a number of other names not suitable for publication…) The Bush Turkey had decided to make a nest very close to his home, and he was not happy about that at all. After shooing the Turkey away numerous times, whereupon it, of course, returned every time, he pondered the problem…
For some reason unbeknownst to him, the thought entered his mind that he should put his big teddy bear; Ted, on top of the Turkey nest. He did, and law and behold, the Turkey did not return. Feeling a bit sorry for Ted, sitting out there in the weather, he pulled him off the nest after a while, and as soon as he had, the Turkey returned! As soon as Ted was placed back on the nest, the Turkey stayed away.
After he told me this story it stayed in my mind, and when we had a problem with Bush Turkeys coming into our garden and destroying our vegetables and fruits, I set out to get some teddies at the opp shop. I came home with 4 teddies (they sell at the opp shop at around 50 cents each) and we proceeded to tie them up on the fences and gates around the vegie garden.
We have not had Bush Turkey problems since….
My friend told me that people do not believe him when he tells his Bush Turkey story, but I can tell you, teddies seem to scare the Bush Chooks and have kept our vegie garden safe so far! Do make sure they stay out of reach of puppy dogs, since they also seem to make a wonderful playmate for them…
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This is indeed great news – thank you soooo much!
Is there something special about these teddies? I went to Vinnies and bought 2 old teds, but the turkeys here just walk right past them!
I don’t know, maybe they are not big enough to be intimidating? Taller than the bush turkey is probably good…
I tied them above turkey head height. I’ll look out for something bigger 🙂
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