How to manage broody turkey hens

[SarahGfa]

I have 2 turkey hens. Last year I had a lot of stress when they kept escaping to make nests. They each did 4 clutches from March to october, and hid farther away each time I found and destroyed a nest.

What is the best way to manage them if i don't want any poults?

If I give them chicken eggs to hatch, will they be satisfied with one brood and not try to hatch anymore for the rest of the year?

 

[Huntmaster]

when they kept escaping to make nests.

How are they escaping?

 

[SarahGfa]

How are they escaping?

I use electric fence and they fly over. I do have a 10x20 covered pen that was meant for the turkeys but when I let them out it is impossible to get them to go back in

 

[Huntmaster]

Its normal for them to want to go hide their nests the more you fool with their nest the harder they will try to hide them as you already found out. I would keep them in your covered pen and collect eggs if they go broody if you don't want any poults. Maybe you could give places to hide and nest in your fenced in area, but there's no guarantee they will stay in and use them.

 

[SarahGfa]

Its normal for them to want to go hide their nests the more you fool with their nest the harder they will try to hide them as you already found out. I would keep them in your covered pen and collect eggs if they go broody if you don't want any poults. Maybe you could give places to hide and nest in your fenced in area, but there's no guarantee they will stay in and use them.

Locking them up from March-October is possible but it is not my hen's favorite solution. If I lock them up just long enough to get them used to laying in there, will they keep returning to lay in the same spot? (I will collect the eggs and replace them with chicken eggs or fake eggs).

 

[Huntmaster]

That may work it would be worth a try, but I wouldn't fool with nesting area much you risk them moving nest again. Do you have toms?

 

[SarahGfa]

That may work it would be worth a try, but I wouldn't fool with nesting area much you risk them moving nest again. Do you have toms?

i have one male. he will be lonely with the hens locked up for 6 months

 

[Molpet]

I leave a marked egg in the nest. I started with fake eggs but mine figured out it was not an egg.

I have lots turkey hens who end up with chicks. Most are great chick moms, one kills them as they hatch.
2022 I had a bunch that ended up with poults and chicks. They ran the chicks off about 6 wks and kept the poults until fall.
There's social issues though. They identify with both species. Chickens don't run soon enough when turkeys go after them. Toms try to mate with chickens. I have had to put down a couple chickens

 

[SarahGfa]

I leave a marked egg in the nest. I started with fake eggs but mine figured out it was not an egg.

What is the purpose of the marked egg?

so,.... does this mean it is impossible to control turkey breeding other than to keep the hens in a covered pen for half the year?

 

[R2elk]

What is the purpose of the marked egg?

so,.... does this mean it is impossible to control turkey breeding other than to keep the hens in a covered pen for half the year?

The marked egg is so that you know which egg it is and can take the fresh eggs instead.