HELP! Broody hen hatching wild turkey eggs - it's hatching! What do I do?!?!

[kimcurnow]

So I found an abandoned turkey nest after we mowed a spot in the field. I've always wanted turkeys, so i thought for the fun of it I would give my broody Silkie hen the eggs and see what happened. Well, today is 25 days later and one of the eggs is hatching! I heard peeps when I went in to put them to bed tonight and I checked under her. The beak is poked through and it's making noise. She is in the nest in the chicken coop with the other chickens. Should I move her? Should I help the turkey out if he gets stuck? How long should I wait before helping him out of the egg (if I should at all?) I don't want him to die!!!

.... and what the heck do I do next?! Lol!! I really didn't think this was going to work. Now will I have a Silkie hen mama walking around with turkey babies?

 

[refamat]

So I found an abandoned turkey nest after we mowed a spot in the field. I've always wanted turkeys, so i thought for the fun of it I would give my broody Silkie hen the eggs and see what happened. Well, today is 25 days later and one of the eggs is hatching! I heard peeps when I went in to put them to bed tonight and I checked under her. The beak is poked through and it's making noise. She is in the nest in the chicken coop with the other chickens. Should I move her? Should I help the turkey out if he gets stuck? How long should I wait before helping him out of the egg (if I should at all?) I don't want him to die!!!

.... and what the heck do I do next?! Lol!! I really didn't think this was going to work. Now will I have a Silkie hen mama walking around with turkey babies?

what's nice is that a hen is a hen and she should do great during the hatch. But I suggest you get some high protein game bird feed (26-28% protein) and put the turkey chick on it and in a brooder. The are delicate the first week then they start to harden up, but they will need some high protein food or they won't make it. Sounds dumb, but evidently, in the wild, the hen will find them the best foods. You hen will do great, but her choice of feed will not be top menu stuff.

 

[postalpoultry]

lol I just did finish answering similar on another thread! geese.
she should be just fine for a while anyway.
let her hatch them out and brood them for that matter, much easier for you! if you see problems arise THEN you can take them but for now they are in the best possible place for them!
usually no need to help with hatching under a hen, it may take hrs but should be fine.
I would only help (and this is usually in incubator) if peeps become weak and nose is still covered.
sometimes in incubator egg can dry out after peep, trapping chick with air blocked off by egg sack at that point I will peel back alittle so he can breath but rarely happens under hen

 

[annewandering]

Isnt it illegal to have wild turkeys? It is here. Best to check it out before getting to far into becoming attached to them.

 

[postalpoultry]

what's nice is that a hen is a hen and she should do great during the hatch. But I suggest you get some high protein game bird feed (26-28% protein) and put the turkey chick on it and in a brooder. The are delicate the first week then they start to harden up, but they will need some high protein food or they won't make it. Sounds dumb, but evidently, in the wild, the hen will find them the best foods. You hen will do great, but her choice of feed will not be top menu stuff.

absolutely correct!

 

[refamat]

I won't tell on her. People keep squirrels and raccoon babies all the time. There is a deer in the news right now. Point is, it's only an issue when someone makes it so. Abandoned eggs because of field clearing is just a tough break for the chicks, will it really hurt to let them have a life? A wild mammal cub, kit, etc, or a bird of prey chick I would turn over to the local extension agent or animal control for proper care. If they are pastured and free ranging, they will be easily reintegrated into the wild