How many days for a broody Bourbon Red turkey?

[Gloria]

I have a one year old (May2nd) Bourbon Red hen. She has been setting on eggs since April 24th and is down to 5 eggs from 15.

Should I try to make her get up because they are not going to hatch or should I just leave her alone? May 22nd was her 28 days. Have I read that right, 28 days for a turkey?

Will she get up before she starves to death?

Any ideas on what I should do would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

[ziggywiggy]

I have a Midget White who smashes her eggs when they started hatching. The last time it happened, I cleaned up the nest and removed all her eggs and she kept right on setting with no eggs in the box. So I ordered some eggs and when they got here I put them under her and she is now setting on those eggs. When this is all over with, she will have set close to 60 days. I do keep a close eye on her and make sure she eats good when she gets off the nest. The sad thing is that I'll have to take the eggs at 25 days so she doesn't smash them again and then I will completely remove her nest box.

 

[Gloria]

I was wondering if she might be smashing them when they hatch. Will she eat them too? Because I can't really see anything in there other than the egg shell pieces.

The 5 eggs she has left are really nasty. Are they okay or should I toss them?

Wow, 60 days is a long time without much food or water, isn't it?

 

[ziggywiggy]

She gets off the nest everday to eat and drink.
What happened to your other 10 eggs? Sounds to me like something else is getting them. I've never heard of a hen eating eggs she's setting on. Is there other poultry in with her?
You can candle the other five and see if anything is in them. Also, if you gently shake them and hear a sloshing sound, they're no good. If they're 7 days over due, there probably no good.

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

I would take the eggs, it's way past the hatch date. Are you sure there hasn't been any eggs added since she started sitting? If the eggs were layed later they might be good. The only way to tell is take on and crack it open. Be careful cracking it as it might explode and there is no smell quite like that.

Steve

 

[Gloria]

Thanks Steve, I didn't know what to do. She started sitting on 15 eggs and they are all gone except the 5. I gave her this extra week thinking maybe they were the last ones laid and needed more time.

She is the only one in that pen right now. We had to split up her and the tom because he kept trying to mate her while she was on the nest and breaking the eggs.

I don't know what happened with the rest of the 15, that's how many she had after we split them up.

Do you think it would be better to try to take them away from her at night? Or doesn't it really matter?

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

I really doesn't matter when you break the nest up but you will have to block it off or she willl keep sitting.

Steve

 

[Gloria]

Thanks for your help. Problem is solved. We took the nest out yesterday and I don't think it even bothered her very much.
Thanks again.

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

glad to be able to help, Now you need to make a road trip and get some poults. I am knee deep and rising here. lol

Steve

 

[Gloria]

lol I figured you would be knee deep this time of year. As for a road trip I would really love too, but haven't talked hubby into it yet.

We lived over on Kings Mountain for awhile a few years ago. I loved it there and would really like to move back someday. Maybe someday it will happen again.

Thanks Steve for being my go to guy! :~)