Help! Im so confused!

[sonderah]

I have a hen who has made a nest. Last I looked she had about 4 eggs in it. Its still below freezing at night though, so I figure they won't even be viable.
I've thought about ordering some hatching eggs locally. My question is, if I put a bunch of eggs in her nest for her to find next time she goes to it, will it help or hurt? I want her to start brooding some non hatching eggs before I put the fertile ones under her, so the the fertile ones do not freeze. But if she goes to the nest one day and theres suddenly an entire clutch, will she change her nest AGAIN???

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Is she broody at all or has she ever been broody?
The number of eggs won't change broody habits, they'll even go broody with no eggs if the hormones kick in.
Eggs below freezing for any length of time won't hatch.

 

[sonderah]

Ha! See how much I know! I thought a turkey won't brood until she gets whatever she feels like is enough eggs. Lol No she's not setting yet. This will be her 1st spring, so never been broody before. She is allowing my new Tom to mate and has been laying for a few weeks now. She free ranges, and is on her 3rd, that I know of, nest cause I kept taking her eggs!! Lol I didn't know they would switch if I took them. She's been using this one for a good week now. She's my 1st turkey, so I'm learning... Slowly!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Normally, you're right. A friend had 2 hens and no tom but they went broody a lot. She didn't manage it well and let one sit too long till it eventually died.

This would be the season though. So perhaps you could get some fake eggs, collect and save the fertile ones if it gets too cold and when you're sure she's broody, swap them.

 

[sonderah]

Yeah I was thinking about just adding some grocery store eggs until she is setting good. I'm going to go out this evening, when someone gets home to watch my grand baby, and switch them. She's already been there today, so I shouldn't get busted. Lol

I'm wondering if, about a week into her setting on eggs, I add a few chicken eggs what would happen. Lol

Normally, you're right. A friend had 2 hens and no tom but they went broody a lot. She didn't manage it well and let one sit too long till it eventually died.

This would be the season though. So perhaps you could get some fake eggs, collect and save the fertile ones if it gets too cold and when you're sure she's broody, swap them.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

That would work. My friends turkeys hatched some of my chicken eggs when I was having incubator problems.

Keep in mind that a wild turkey will have eggs added by other hens occasionally and eggs eaten by possums and snakes but if any are left they'll still set.

 

[sonderah]

That would work. My friends turkeys hatched some of my chicken eggs when I was having incubator problems.

Keep in mind that a wild turkey will have eggs added by other hens occasionally and eggs eaten by possums and snakes but if any are left they'll still set.

I did it! It was VERY difficult!! She made an awesome nest, so many briars, idk how it isn't covered in her feathers! Looks like she's been laying every day for 5 days now, in that nest at least. Lol I replaced them with chicken eggs, so at least this mornings egg may have a chance, & I guess I'll check every day.

U say she will set til no more eggs r left. So do u mean that she's not like a chicken which will get up a few days after the 1st hatch, she would just stay if I left infertile eggs under her?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

No, they're like other poultry. They'll abandon the nest once they need to take care of live babies unless they can hear noise and feel movement from the eggs.

Be careful of making a bird set for too long.

 

[sonderah]

No, they're like other poultry. They'll abandon the nest once they need to take care of live babies unless they can hear noise and feel movement from the eggs.

Be careful of making a bird set for too long.

Ok. Ty!! I'll be sure and keep a close eye on her when it comes time for them to start hatching.
Here's hoping she goes broody!! I can incubate if not. Which I don't mind incubating at all, its the brooding that gets to me after awhile. Lol