baby turkeys under first time (chicken)mom .... *** PIC ***

[ccshambhala]

Hi all! A neighbor gave me 6 partially incubated turkey eggs that her turkey abandoned to raise some other chicks. I had two cochin hens that were broody so I put the eggs under them (3 and 3). The hens weren't quite sure what to make of that (they had been sitting on nothing after all) and their coverage was sporadic - but every time I came out if I found eggs not being set on I put them under one of the two sitting hens. (I have a marans hen sitting on 6 mottled houdan eggs I got on ebay but that's another story...). Last night when my husband went out to gather eggs he lifted one of the cochin hens to find a baby turkey along with the eggs. We left it there overnight and when we checked this morning she is still sitting on the remaining eggs with the one baby turkey with her and it would appear she has laid one of her own eggs for the clutch. Should I pull the baby and any more that hatch and raise them inside? Leaving my newbie to mourn? Should I give her a chance at motherhood - at least waiting another day or so to see if she is going to take her baby down to find water and food for it? I could separate the mom and her baby(ies) from the flock if necessary.... Are turkeys very different to raise from chickens?
please help!!
thanx!

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

Adorable picture - never seen a turkey chick look like that - but I have only seen bronze. And really have no experience raising them.

My broodies normally leave the nest with their chicks, when the chicks are about 3 days old. I keep food and water in reach of the hen on the nest (rocks in the water so the chick does not drown) and she will show the chick the food and water. If you have a place, safe for mom and chicks, I would leave the chicks with mom to raise - she makes it so much easier on you. I have a smaller run inside my flocks run, that has baby chick wire, so mom and babies are safe from the flock.


I am betting another hen laid an egg in your broodies nest - normally a broody will not lay until she has stopped brooding and raised her clutch - but I guess anything can happen.

Can't wait for more pictures.

 

[JLS]

Absolutely amazing! Keep us posted

 

[ccshambhala]

So only the one chick hatched - but she is a super good mom!! I put mom and baby in a 4x8' chicken tractor for safe keeping and we pulled the remaining (royal palm) turkey eggs yesterday and now she is sitting on 4 mottled houdan eggs i got on ebay (they were due to hatch friday but the hen that was sitting on those squashed the first to hatch

a bunch of first time experiences here ...) She is sitting on em - but she also takes time to walk around the tractor with her baby turkey

(this will be awesome to see when the turkey gets some age to it!!)
I put a box for the nest in there, chicken food on top of the box, turkey starter on a plate on the ground - and water with rocks in it. I also put a roof on the tractor to keep them dry.
thanx for the responses and words of encouragement

(horsefeatherz - i was surprised how much the turkey looked like a chicken too!! next time the feed store gets them in i will have to go up and look to see what the other colors look like as poults/chicks - and you were right - when we moved the nest I saw the eggs - and the extra egg was not hers (wrong color))

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

Those pictures are fantastic! What a wonderful mom

I love a broody, and just look at your girl - I can tell she is clucking n talking in those pictures by the way she is all fluffed up *sigh*

Have you decided on a name for the turkey "chick" yet?

 

[kuntrygirl]

Please don't take the babies from her. Let her enjoy motherhood. She deserves it. They are so cute! Keep us posted.

 

[Angiesgarden]

Our Buff is also raising 2 poults. Super great mama!

 

[Angiesgarden]

When were they old enough to be without their mama?