A century of Turkey talk 2000-2100.

[fat brown hen]

No, definitely not pairs. They pretty much go where they want. Theres about 20ish hens and 5 toms, to build a pen they would be happy with costs a lot.

Is it common for toms to adopt poults? I always thought toms would kill them.

 

[R2elk]

Is it common for toms to adopt poults? I always thought toms would kill them.

Toms can change their behavior very quickly. One that is providing warmth for a poult one day may be trying to kill it the next day.

It isn't common but from time to time people report their toms sitting on eggs. Over the years I have had two different toms do so briefly. The end was always the same, broken eggs.

None of my toms have actively tried to kill poults. At least one hen would kill poults that weren't hers.

The main danger to poults from toms is when they are very young from getting stepped on or getting pecked too hard.

 

[Pearlescent]

Let the broody gamble begin…

In the worst nest possible, with a questionable track record, Sugar is attempting to redeem herself after quitting (after 8 days of sitting) earlier this year.

She already seems more committed than last time, which is great. Maybe she just likes brooding in the summer, that’s what she did last year.

 

[R2elk]

 

[Pearlescent]

 

[Bantambird]

I usually lock the poults up either in a brooder or a reliable broody before letting them join the flock. Broodies get minimum 2 weeks, brooder poults get 2 months, usually.

 

[Bantambird]

What color do you think this one is? She is mottled, but also showing some bronze?

 

[R2elk]

View attachment 4157969
What color do you think this one is? She is mottled, but also showing some bronze?

@austria89

 

[fat brown hen]

Something ate my ceramic goose eggs along with 3 or 4 turkey eggs. I suspect coyotes, due to presence of droppings nearby. Will a coyote be able to pass ceramic eggs through its gut? The eggs were not cheap and I would like to have them back.

 

[R2elk]

Something ate my ceramic goose eggs along with 3 or 4 turkey eggs. I suspect coyotes, due to presence of droppings nearby. Will a coyote be able to pass ceramic eggs through its gut? The eggs were not cheap and I would like to have them back.

I have had raccoons and skunks try to eat them but usually find the pieces of the eggs where they broke them open. None of them were actually eaten. Sometimes they were as much as 40' from where the animal found them.

In one particular case the animal took two of them under my tack room. I found one outside a few days later but it was a whole year before some animal dragged the other one back out from under the tack shed. Both eggs were intact.

If the eggs were eaten whole they may pass them but probably miles away. If they were eaten as pieces, they may cut the coyote from the inside and cause its death.