Free Ranging Turkey, Raising Poults Free Ranged?

[SandyC]

Has anyone done this or is it a certain death sentence for the poults? One of my Royal Palms has been sitting on a nest for about 28 days on the edge of our woods. If the eggs were fertile (I heard a wild tom in the woods just before she nested...I have no tom) they are about ready for hatch. I have 15 other turkey eggs in the incubator, due to hatch early next week. I thought I would take my changes with momma turkey as I really don't want that many! I have wild turkeys all around, so their poults live. Any comments?

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

We just had a pair of White Holland hens hatch a clutch of eggs. As soon as the eggs hatched we moved the poults and both hens to a small enclosed pen. If you just let them range out you will probably loose quite a few unless the hen is a very good mother.

I was watching ours yesterday afternoon and the poults have learned to jump up on the hens back - there were 6 of them all in row on "momma's" back.

Steve in NC

 

[ohiofarmgirl]

there were 6 of them all in row on "momma's" back.

ohmigolly thats cute, Steve! wish you had a pic of that.

we have one hen who - after all this time - finally sat her own nest in the woods! we covered her with chicken wire and plywood and will hope for the best. based on this info i'll bring her into a coop when her babies hatch! hopefully they will ride in on momma just like yours!​

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

I'll take the camera with me tonight and see if they will do it, but you know they won't lol

They were only a couple days old here.

Steve

 

[katrinag]

What an awesome pic.

 

[ohiofarmgirl]

great googleymoogley! they are the BUSINESS they are so cute! what a proud momma


great job!!!!