Turkey Nests

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On the ground. Nest `box' is defined by limits of safe area provided (no preds or intrusive turks/chickens). Make sure area is ready to use. Move any unauthorized eggs to the chosen location (they'll try to sneak off when free ranged/scrape a `nest' , lay an egg and walk on back as if nothing happened). If a hen starts giving out with a plaintive sort of repetitive `whoot' and wanders off from flock as if in a trance - keep an eye on her as she's probably off to lay an egg. Return the egg to the `nest' and keep her penned up. They usually catch on pretty quick.

Where they want to lay:
262_misshissnest3.jpg


What they get, here:
262_tnest0611.jpg
 
Mine would lay just about anywhere, I have given them raised nests that were just as simple as some type of long plastic crate mounted up in their shelter and they were perfectly content to lay in it without even any hay or anything in it. They've also layed in a wooden box on the ground, some would just lay randomly on the ground, I've found eggs under the roosts like they laid them at night while they were roosting, an yes I have also had sneaky hens that go off and start a nest way out in the woods and I had to wait for them to come back for food and water, then follow them back to find where the nest was.
 
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Mine will nest on the ground in the chicken house in their own made nest made from hay and leaves and twigs that the ducks and turkeys bring in(
hmm.png
) or in the chicken's nesting boxes but I prefer ground nest boxes for them. They just look to be more comfortable on the ground in something bigger other than a chicken nesting box.
 
mine just start to walk away from the flock, all casual like, looking this way and that, making sure noone is watching... if they were cartoon characters, their eyes would be rolled up to one corner and they'd be whistling...
roll.png


current favorite unapproved location: under a blackberry/poison ivy hedge.
 
Thanks so much all !!
This is the info I had been looking for !!
My Blue Slate Turkey had been wondering off to lay her eggs and she has has been going to the woods on our place which would have not been a good Idea considering the section she wanted to go to was right beside a creek that has predators going up and down it all the time. Thank goodness I caught her before she laid any eggs in there at all.
So I put her in their turkey Coop and and I am just keeping the run closed so she will not wonder off !
My birds are free range but at night we put them up.
I also had a Container that was cracked on the bottom so I just cut one end of it out so I am hoping she will use that !!
Thanks again !! And hopefully things will work out !!
 
I was thinking about finding a plastic barrel and cutting the ends off about 6-8" to use on the ground to make nest for my bourbon reds. Would fill the bottom with a good layer of shavings and top off with straw. Thought this might keep the eggs from getting wet in the event of a down pour which can seep into the run if heavy enough rain. Would this work or do I need to rethink the nest idea?
 
ivan3 said:
On the ground.  Nest `box'  is defined by limits of safe area provided (no preds or intrusive turks/chickens).  Make sure area is ready to use.  Move any unauthorized eggs to the chosen location (they'll try to sneak off when free ranged/scrape a `nest' , lay an egg and walk on back as if nothing happened).  If a hen starts giving out with a plaintive sort of repetitive `whoot'  and wanders off from flock as if in a trance - keep an eye on her as she's probably off to lay an egg.  Return the egg to the `nest' and keep her penned up.  They usually catch on pretty quick.


Where they want to lay:
262_misshissnest3.jpg



What they get, here:
262_tnest0611.jpg
Click to expand...


Great post. Great info! :thumbsup
 

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