11 Month old Royal Palm Eggs, Can they be fertile?Broody ?

[Joe.G]

Hi, I have 1 Tom and 1 Hen both Royal Palms, I have two eggs now that the female has hidden in the hay, Can these be fertile at this age? Do they go broody often these birds? Can I stick Chicken/Gunieas and Peafowl eggs in there by her eggs? Any tips?

 

[Joe.G]

Any One?

 

[turkey lover]

i have a bourbon red,hen i have put two royal palm eggs and also two black Spaniard turkey eggs in with her group of eggs i just marked them cause I'm curious is all but she is sitting on them just fine

 

[Joe.G]

I am guessing they will be fine, But can she be fertile being under a year old?

 

[R2elk]

I am guessing they will be fine, But can she be fertile being under a year old?

First year turkey hens typically start laying before they are a full year old and if bred by a fertile tom they certainly can produce fertile eggs.

See the first post in the following thread to see how to determine if an egg is fertile. Of course if you check it by that method you just as well go ahead and cook it once you know the result.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/16008/how-to-tell-a-fertile-vs-infertile-egg-pictures

 

[Joe.G]

The Tom is the same age, Can he be fertile by this age?
He walks around all day showing off to her and calling out.

 

[Celie]

Heritage turkeys can be sexually mature as young as 8 or 9 months !

 

[Joe.G]

I never see him mount her but he struts all around none stop.

 

[R2elk]

I never see him mount her but he struts all around none stop.

That is normal. Whenever he is not breeding the hen, he will be strutting. It is not uncommon to not see the actual mating. With 1 tom and 5 hens, I only witnessed two or three matings prior to the onset of egg laying. I recall finding only three or four eggs that appeared to be infertile.

Just because we don't see the actual mating doesn't mean it isn't happening. One sign that I watch for is messed up feathers on the hen's back. Of course if your tom only has one hen, he can quickly wear all the feathers off of her back. In that kind of situation I highly recommend the use of a turkey saddle to protect your hen from an over zealous tom.

 

[Joe.G]

Yeah I only have one of each, She appears to be in good shape, I do see feathers scattered around at times.