Hen Setting??

[Twisted Acres]

I am new to the turkey thing. My hen hasnt started laying or setting yet. When should this start?


And when she does start setting should I take the tom out or leave him in the pen with her? I have been told to take him out while she is setting but I have also been told to leave him in there.

Please Help! It is GREATLY appreciated.

 

[jackietheturkeylover]

she should be laying w/in 6 months to a year if she doesn't something's wrong w her or she is a boy.. you don't have to separate the male unless he starts attacking her otherwise he might sit on the eggs mine did

 

[Twisted Acres]

No she laid last year. I was just wondering when that start laying in the spring?

 

[Frosty]

That depends on your location... folks in the south are already hatching poults, while I am still waiting for eggs (except my BBW hen is laying but she's in with the chickens and I had lights on for a while...)

 

[kuntrygirl]

That depends on your location... folks in the south are already hatching poults, while I am still waiting for eggs (except my BBW hen is laying but she's in with the chickens and I had lights on for a while...)

Frosty is right.

My first poults hatched are 2 months old and the youngest may be about 3 weeks old. They are in their grown out pens and will soon be placed with the other animals. All of my girls are setting on turkey eggs and they should be hatching soon.

 

[FarmerGilland]

How old are they when you put them with the bigger turkeys? I have 2 that are 15 days old but will have more to hatch at the end of this month.

 

[kuntrygirl]

How old are they when you put them with the bigger turkeys? I have 2 that are 15 days old but will have more to hatch at the end of this month.

Oh, I won't put them with the older ones until they are about 4 o r 5 months old and I will do it gradually. I usually begin the integration process on the weekends. I let them out early Saturday morning (6:00 AM) when I go out to open all of the coops and houses. I allow them to roam all day and get a good feel of the area (1 acre) but they don't go far. I allow the other animals to see them and they see the other animals as well. I am out there all day with them and only go inside the house to drink or use the bathroom. I do not leave them unattended for a long time (5 minutes max). I put them back in at night. I do the same thing again the Sunday. I then let them out every day when I get home from work (5:30PM) and they stay out until dark. I do this for a few weeks until I am comfortable that they won't get attacked by others. Now keep in mind, when I let them out the other turkeys come running and they do give them a once and twice over and then they move in to start the bullying. I have to break up fights ALL DAY LONG but it's part of the process. Everyone eventually gets along and there are no problems. I have not lost any poults due to the fact I do it this way.

Everyone will be different, so you will have to find what works best for you and this works very well for me.