I plan to have a hatch about 1/2 way through April because then it will be in the high 80's around here.... The turkeys can't see outside the coop do to that we have to put in windows still. How do I get my hen to breed and think it is late spring with out cooking her?
It is my understanding that in the North where you are, turkeys are seasonal breeders. They will breed when nature tells them the weather is right, regardless of what you want them to do. I really don't know when turkeys breed in your area, so maybe someone else from closer to you, will chime in here, because in LA, they started in December. I know most Northern hatcheries, don't have turkeys available until May or June. When the time is right, they will breed without any help!
Your answer is better than mine, I was going to suggest teaching his tom to dance gracefully for the hen, like in the smiley you chose above OR since there are no windows adjust the ammount of light in the coop to make the days SEEM longer like they do for laying hens. RobertH
Last year here in BC I got my first egg on spring solstice And it was a very cold late spring in the pacific north west. I expect them earlier this year because its going to be an early spring in these parts.
I'm going with the light. If its dark and there are no windows, they won't lay eggs. Put up a fence and let them outside and they will figure it out!
