Can I keep a pair together if the "Lady" sits on eggs?

[sashacat]

I only have the 2 turkeys, and tho the tom likes to hang out with the chickens I would prefer him not to live in their house. Will he bother the hen turkey if I keep them together while she is on the nest? Will he be ok with the poults or will he attack them? We've had great success hatching out 2 small batches in the bator already this spring and I really don't need any more, but she's still laying So I figured I would let her have a go at it if she wanted.

 

[R2elk]

I only have the 2 turkeys, and tho the tom likes to hang out with the chickens I would prefer him not to live in their house. Will he bother the hen turkey if I keep them together while she is on the nest? Will he be ok with the poults or will he attack them? We've had great success hatching out 2 small batches in the bator already this spring and I really don't need any more, but she's still laying So I figured I would let her have a go at it if she wanted.

It will be much better for the hen if the tom is separated from her while she is setting on the nest. He will take the fact that she is laying down as consent for breeding. At the best, you will have broken eggs and at the worst you will have a dead hen if you keep him with her.

 

[Kellykidz]

So do we move the hens and eggs into a new space or are 2 hens staying in Turkey Coop laying on eggs ok?

 

[chicks and hens2]

I think we move the Jake or Tom out with whatever Hens aren't setting or laying???? or just move him to separate quarters.

 

[R2elk]

So do we move the hens and eggs into a new space or are 2 hens staying in Turkey Coop laying on eggs ok?

I would leave the hens and their nests alone and move the tom to another pen. Once the chicks hatch, keep a close eye on the hens. I have had hens kill chicks that were not their own and I have had hens gladly accept and adopt another hen's chicks.

 

[chooks4life]

I agree with R2elk, if you leave him in the majority of toms will take it as consent. Also he will probably do the same as she freeranges with the chicks whenever she sits to cuddle them. As for whether or not he'll attack them, that depends on him as an individual. Some will, some won't, some will later on for no apparent reason.

You can give her a semi-low shelter so he can visit her but not mount her, or give her some sort of small enclosure so she and the nest are safe. Might be easier to just remove him though.

One of my toms was always a great father, never tried anything on the hen as she sat, nor on the babies, then one day I found him killing chicks by trying to mate with them --- combined with pecking. He crouched while dangling dead chicks from his beak, and killed multiples before I found out, all without any untoward behaviour leading up to the event. Several other toms did that too, when the chicks were only about 3 weeks old. Also some of my toms were good for several seasons then randomly started trying to kill the females instead of mate, or even trying to kill them while mating. Got that line from a random breeder.

 

[turkey lover]

i hen is sitting on 18 eggs right now we have about 13 days to go before they hatch,my Jake,hasn't bothered her, but I'm getting ready to separate them.that's a lot of sitting for my girl,an would hate for her time waisted,,an baby chicks to be hurt.

 

[chooks4life]

Probably the best idea. Good to have at least two hens that preferably were hatched at different times of the year so will sit at different times, so he's not left to go lonely or batty as some of them do... Also, you're going to need every chance you can get to preserve your baby turkeys, if my random experiences are anything to go by. Good idea to give yourself and them the best chances possible.

 

[sashacat]

Thank you all, Mr. Tom is hanging out with the chickens and mama is sitting tight on the nest. Keep your fingers crossed!

 

[turkey lover]

my babies are here,hooray,5 so far have made it out of there eggs,but that's a start