Broody turkey hens, want to add eggs into their nests...?

[Mojoorion]

Good afternoon, I have 2 free range Calico turkey hens who went broody on their nests (one in the woods, one in my shed) within 12 hours of me placing 16 of their eggs in my incubator. We are on day 5 or so and I want to get these eggs back under the hens, and I would like to make sure they will not abandon their nests if I do so. They are also sitting on a few chicken eggs as well which I would like to pull out... Both of these hens hatched out broods last year which I did not interfere with. I can do it after dark or early in the morning, whatever time may lower my risks. Thank you in advance for your information.

 

[Lagerdogger]

If the hens really are brooding, and if they actually went broody at the same time you started incubating, you should be ok. The risk is that they actually went broody a few days before or after you did. If this is the case, the hens will abandon the nest after the first group hatches, and you could lose a number of eggs that are just a day it two away from hatching. It's pretty easy to slip eggs in. Just put them next to the hen. She will hiss at you and maybe take a bite or two, but after you leave she will roll the eggs underneath her.

 

[Mojoorion]

Thank you. I pulled the eggs the night before they went broody... (One of my dogs ate 6 eggs that same night and I did not want to lose any more) To be frank it is probably less than 12 hours. I am concerned about the chicken eggs under them though. 21 days vs 28...? I did test the waters and try and peek under one of the hens, and you are correct she just hissed but never moved and I could have placed a few eggs under her at the time I did it. Not sure how to get the chicken eggs out from under her without disturbing her worse. I can also definitely do at night as has been suggested through an older thread. Thank you.