Can't find my turkeys nest!

[chickenJesss]

So I recently acquired 5 toms and 3 female turkeys. They are full grown and have been used to being free range. They have been roosting up in The pines surrounding my house but I was hoping someone could give me sme tips on How to find the nest where the females will lay their eggs. I made so e really nice nesti g boxs with hay and pine branches but they show no interest. I am hoping to incubate and hatch their eggs. I have experience with chickens but turkeys are a whole new experience for me!

 

[R2elk]

It has been my experience that if you really want them to lay in a specific spot, add a couple of fake eggs to get their interest. Most likely they will decide where to hide their nests from you. I find it easier to locate those nests by locking a hen in and then following her from a distance when I let the hen out. She may take a circuitous route but will suddenly disappear from sight. I then look very closely at the spot she disappeared until I can locate the hen. I also find it easier to spot a nest when the hen is not on the nest as the hens can camouflage themselves vey well but don't particularly cover the eggs real well.

Good luck.

 

[Scottingitup]

It has been my experience that if you really want them to lay in a specific spot, add a couple of fake eggs to get their interest. Most likely they will decide where to hide their nests from you. I find it easier to locate those nests by locking a hen in and then following her from a distance when I let the hen out. She may take a circuitous route but will suddenly disappear from sight. I then look very closely at the spot she disappeared until I can locate the hen. I also find it easier to spot a nest when the hen is not on the nest as the hens can camouflage themselves vey well but don't particularly cover the eggs real well.

Good luck.

Tell that to my sneaks! I had to follow one of my hens as well, she had her nest completely covered with leaves and pine straw. It was pretty much invisible!

 

[KrisH]

Tell that to my sneaks! I had to follow one of my hens as well, she had her nest completely covered with leaves and pine straw. It was pretty much invisible!

x2

RobertH

 

[R2elk]

Tell that to my sneaks! I had to follow one of my hens as well, she had her nest completely covered with leaves and pine straw. It was pretty much invisible!

Good for your hens.

My hens and a wild hen I am acquainted with do a very good job of hiding their nests in places I have walked right past without noticing the nests until I had reason (watched turkey disappear there) to look very closely. In none of their nests were the eggs completely hidden, a feather here and there and a few leaves but definitely not completely covered.

Now a wild duck whose nest I found, that was a totally different story. The nest itself was well hidden and camouflaged. She had dug down to just below ground level, laid the eggs in the depression, covered them with a good inch of her own down and covered that with another inch of bits and pieces of mostly dried grass so that not a speck of the down was showing. As well hidden as it was, a skunk still found it and cleaned out all of the eggs.

 

[chickenJesss]

Wow! Thanks for all the tips guys. We just got a footof snow yesterday soooo looks like I will have an even harder time. Can't wait for spring!