Democratic turkey laid her eggs outside her cage

murrayfarms43

In the Brooder
5 Years
Jul 18, 2014
13
0
24
ohio
I let my hen and toms out every day so they can enjoy the grass. I have 3 toms and 1 hen. When my hen is ready " to get a little" I only let her boyfriend out. I thought she was done having babies for the year. I started to have a bad feeling when she would start to disappear from the boys and a chicken that runs with the turkeys . The other chickens tried to kill her twice so I don't feel I can put her back with the chickens again she's the only white one I have.
I seen my hen take off behind the house ( which is a field and brush) she laid 13 eggs in the brush. I want to move them to her nesting box in her cage where she won't be a sitting duck. I haven't had any luck hatching any eggs so far this is her 3rd try. I can't say it's all been her fault.
But, yesterday my dog killed a raccoon which was probably on its way to get her eggs or her. She's such a great protector.
Her nest is nothing like she makes in a nesting box. But I'm also afraid if I don't cage the babies then
700

when they hatch I won't be able to catch them. Has anyone had any luck letting their hen hatch out eggs ??
 
Here is what I found out. After her third time of laying eggs this summer it took this time to actually hatch the eggs out. I left Penny and the eggs where she had them and she hatched 7 out of (?) ( she had eggs at different times) she is still sitting on 3. At one time I counted 10 eggs but a few died but she still had 10 eggs the other day when they were hatching. I did lose a baby last night. I hope the 6 make it.
 
Here is what I found out. After her third time of laying eggs this summer it took this time to actually hatch the eggs out. I left Penny and the eggs where she had them and she hatched 7 out of (?) ( she had eggs at different times) she is still sitting on 3. At one time I counted 10 eggs but a few died but she still had 10 eggs the other day when they were hatching. I did lose a baby last night. I hope the 6 make it.

Congratulations on the hatch. If you want to make sure the poults make it, gather them up and move them to a brooder. Too much can go wrong leaving a hen loose with new poults. I have had skunks and raccoons completely clean out a nest of newly hatched poults and eggs very quickly. It also helps the hen finish up the hatch instead of getting off of the last eggs and moving on with the poults.

Good luck.
 
What did you mean you help her finish up hatch? Do you open the eggs to get the babies? I did have 3 eggs that didn't hatch but she did continue to sit on them until I would checked on her all the time and she knew I was going to take those also so she left the nest and was done sitting.
She hatched 5 healthy babies. They are so far healthy. They were born sept 29. I did move them to a brooder as you advised. After waiting all summer for babies I didn't want anything to come and take them. Mom cried and actually wined! I have never heard a turkey cry like a dog it broke my heart!!!!! I just about cried myself as I was telling her I was taking them to keep them safe and warm. I hope I didn't damage her spirits in taking them so fast. It was raining, and in the 40's. Strange Ohio weather for September.
 
What did you mean you help her finish up hatch? Do you open the eggs to get the babies? I did have 3 eggs that didn't hatch but she did continue to sit on them until I would checked on her all the time and she knew I was going to take those also so she left the nest and was done sitting.
She hatched 5 healthy babies. They are so far healthy. They were born sept 29. I did move them to a brooder as you advised. After waiting all summer for babies I didn't want anything to come and take them. Mom cried and actually wined! I have never heard a turkey cry like a dog it broke my heart!!!!! I just about cried myself as I was telling her I was taking them to keep them safe and warm. I hope I didn't damage her spirits in taking them so fast. It was raining, and in the 40's. Strange Ohio weather for September.

No, I mean by it helps the hen finish up the hatch because she doesn't take the poults and abandon the nest but continues to sit on the last eggs until they hatch.

Congratulations on your new babies.
 

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