Hatching turkey eggs

[JMBer2c]

Our turkey laid 7 eggs and has been sitting on them now for about 9 days. We estimate that should hatch at the earliest June 1st. My question is, she’s in a chicken yard with 7 other chickens and our Tom. Should we just fence off the area around her or should we remove the chicks as they’re born? We’re not sure if the other chickens or the Tom would try to kill the babies. This is a first for us. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[R2elk]

Our turkey laid 7 eggs and has been sitting on them now for about 9 days. We estimate that should hatch at the earliest June 1st. My question is, she’s in a chicken yard with 7 other chickens and our Tom. Should we just fence off the area around her or should we remove the chicks as they’re born? We’re not sure if the other chickens or the Tom would try to kill the babies. This is a first for us. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

You should have the tom separated from her whether it is by removing him from the pen or enclosing her nest. You can enclose the nest with a wire enclosure that has an opening big enough so that the hen can pass through it but small enough that the tom cannot get through. Toms are known to take hens sitting on their nests as an invitation to breed. This can lead to smashed eggs and injured or even dead hens.

I remove the poults as I find them when they hatch and move them to my brooder. This is not a requirement but there are so many bad things that can happen to newly hatched poults during the first couple of weeks. I prefer to not allow poults into the general population until they are at least two weeks old if they are with the mother turkey and at least 4 weeks old if they are not with a hen.

 

[JMBer2c]

You should have the tom separated from her whether it is by removing him from the pen or enclosing her nest. You can enclose the nest with a wire enclosure that has an opening big enough so that the hen can pass through it but small enough that the tom cannot get through. Toms are known to take hens sitting on their nests as an invitation to breed. This can lead to smashed eggs and injured or even dead hens.

I remove the poults as I find them when they hatch and move them to my brooder. This is not a requirement but there are so many bad things that can happen to newly hatched poults during the first couple of weeks. I prefer to not allow poults into the general population until they are at least two weeks old if they are with the mother turkey and at least 4 weeks old if they are not with a hen.

You should have the tom separated from her whether it is by removing him from the pen or enclosing her nest. You can enclose the nest with a wire enclosure that has an opening big enough so that the hen can pass through it but small enough that the tom cannot get through. Toms are known to take hens sitting on their nests as an invitation to breed. This can lead to smashed eggs and injured or even dead hens.

I remove the poults as I find them when they hatch and move them to my brooder. This is not a requirement but there are so many bad things that can happen to newly hatched poults during the first couple of weeks. I prefer to not allow poults into the general population until they are at least two weeks old if they are with the mother turkey and at least 4 weeks old if they are not with a hen.

She’s not getting off the nest at all. Should I put water and food in front of her while she’s laying on the eggs?

 

[R2elk]

She’s not getting off the nest at all. Should I put water and food in front of her while she’s laying on the eggs?

Just because you don't see her get off of the nest, does not mean she isn't getting off of the nest. I have broody hens now that I never see off of the nest but they are alive and doing well which means they are getting off of the nest to eat and drink and of course leave their huge broody poops also. If you have a trail camera or something similar, you can set it up to prove to yourself that she is getting off of the nest.

Leaving food near a nest can attract unwanted visitors.

 

[JMBer2c]

Just because you don't see her get off of the nest, does not mean she isn't getting off of the nest. I have broody hens now that I never see off of the nest but they are alive and doing well which means they are getting off of the nest to eat and drink and of course leave their huge broody poops also. If you have a trail camera or something similar, you can set it up to prove to yourself that she is getting off of the nest.

Leaving food near a nest can attract unwanted visitors.

Exactly what you said is what I was thinking. But I wasn’t sure. Thank you so much!

 

[kdwellssr]

I have a Hen Turkey that has not been with a Tom. She is now laying eggs. Can someone tell me ...if I put a Tom with her ...how long will it be until her eggs are fertile?

 

[R2elk]

I have a Hen Turkey that has not been with a Tom. She is now laying eggs. Can someone tell me ...if I put a Tom with her ...how long will it be until her eggs are fertile?

Answered here.