Collecting turkey eggs

[dabb]

I've raised turkeys before, however this is my first time having turkeys lay and collecting them. Our hen has laid 3 eggs so far-- two or three days after laying the first egg. She seems very attentive to them so if I collect them will this disrupt her continueing to lay? Should I leave the first one? TIA

 

[CaretakerCarol]

It shouldn't disrupt her laying eggs. My hen often hopes to set on her eggs, I pick them up and she does her turkey-ranging thing until it is time to lay another one. Right now I am getting 4-5 a week.

 

[Molpet]

I date mark the first one and leave it in the nest. Mine will move where they lay if I take all the eggs. I put a marked egg in spots I want them to lay... not that it always works

 

[dabb]

Thank you! I didn't want to disrupt her laying and have her stop laying completely. They're confined to an enclosure because of predators so if she decides to lay some where else I'll have no problem finding them.

 

[Molpet]

Thank you! I didn't want to disrupt her laying and have her stop laying completely. They're confined to an enclosure because of predators so if she decides to lay some where else I'll have no problem finding them.

I was unable to find a hidden nest until an egg was peaking out, they had buried/covered over a dz eggs

 

[vawolfmom]

I have 2 nests in the turkey pen with 8 eggs in each as of last night. I have not seen any of the hens brooding said nests. Do they have some "magic" number they wait for? I have 5 hens so am guessing that all of them take turn laying in one or the other nest. OR does a nest belong to one hen only?

 

[Molpet]

I have 2 nests in the turkey pen with 8 eggs in each as of last night. I have not seen any of the hens brooding said nests. Do they have some "magic" number they wait for? I have 5 hens so am guessing that all of them take turn laying in one or the other nest. OR does a nest belong to one hen only?

Usually around a dz, but I leave one marked egg and pick up daily until weather is warmer. But they decided when they want to go broody. Sometimes more than one hen go broody on the nest. But eggs get broken that way.
Right now I have 3 nests that most of the eggs are in. 4 to 8 eggs in each nest daily and a few other nests with one or two.

 

[R2elk]

I have 2 nests in the turkey pen with 8 eggs in each as of last night. I have not seen any of the hens brooding said nests. Do they have some "magic" number they wait for? I have 5 hens so am guessing that all of them take turn laying in one or the other nest. OR does a nest belong to one hen only?

Each hen has her magic number and that number may vary during the year. The closer it gets to fall, the fewer it takes.

One of my hens would go broody on a single fake egg in the fall.

Most will go broody on 8 to a dozen eggs. I had one hen who wouldn't go broody until there were at least 20 eggs.

It is also not how only many eggs are in the nest but also how many of those eggs that particular hen laid.

 

[vawolfmom]

Each hen has her magic number and that number may vary during the year. The closer it gets to fall, the fewer it takes.

One of my hens would go broody on a single fake egg in the fall.

Most will go broody on8 to a dozen eggs. I had one hen who wouldn't go broody until there were at least 20 eggs.

It is also not how only many eggs are in the nest but also how many of those eggs that particular hen laid.

Well I guess mine are going for that high magic number. There are now 16 eggs in one nest and 18 in the other. We have taken steps to make the entryways Tom proof. Any day now ladies!

 

[vawolfmom]

Well I guess mine are going for that high magic number. There are now 16 eggs in one nest and 18 in the other. We have taken steps to make the entryways Tom proof. Any day now ladies!

Ok...so for the last 3 days there has been a hen on each nest-at least when I am looking lol. I have left all the eggs in each nest and am not expecting a huge hatch out, but am wondering if any will hatch. There are still eggs being laid somewhat close to each nest and if they have not been gathered into a nest I will pick those up.