Incubate or let hen hatch out eggs?

[Toni8675309]

new to the turkey thing, I believe it won't be long before they mate, he has been strutting non-stop, so I was wondering if it's better to let the hen hatch out the eggs or can I incubate?

 

[R2elk]

View attachment 1696774 View attachment 1696774 new to the turkey thing, I believe it won't be long before they mate, he has been strutting non-stop, so I was wondering if it's better to let the hen hatch out the eggs or can I incubate?

I incubate the turkey eggs until I have hatched enough to meet my purposes. Later I let the hens hatch their own eggs to get them to stop laying. Either method can work.

If you let your hen have her own eggs to hatch, either remove the tom from the pen or build something around her nest area with an opening that is large enough for her to get through but is too small for the tom to get through.

A tom will take the hen sitting on the nest as an invitation to breed. The unwanted breeding attempt can result in broken eggs, a wounded hen or at the very worst a dead hen.

 

[Toni8675309]

I incubate the turkey eggs until I have hatched enough to meet my purposes. Later I let the hens hatch their own eggs to get them to stop laying. Either method can work.

If you let your hen have her own eggs to hatch, either remove the tom from the pen or build something around her nest area with an opening that is large enough for her to get through but is too small for the tom to get through.

A tom will take the hen sitting on the nest as an invitation to breed. The unwanted breeding attempt can result in broken eggs, a wounded hen or at the very worst a dead hen.

Thank you! I didn't know that about the Tom, if I incubate would I need to raise the turkeys until they are bigger or would it be okay to put them in the same pen?

 

[R2elk]

Thank you! I didn't know that about the Tom, if I incubate would I need to raise the turkeys until they are bigger or would it be okay to put them in the same pen?

If you incubate them, you will have to brood them until they are fully feathered and acclimated to the ambient temperature. Once they are old enough, you can try releasing them in with the adults and see what happens. Be prepared to act quickly if they aren't accepted. It is best to have them in an area of see but don't touch so the other turkeys can get familiar with them without being able to harm them.

 

[Toni8675309]

If you incubate them, you will have to brood them until they are fully feathered and acclimated to the ambient temperature. Once they are old enough, you can try releasing them in with the adults and see what happens. Be prepared to act quickly if they aren't accepted. It is best to have them in an area of see but don't touch so the other turkeys can get familiar with them without being able to harm them.

Okay thank you so much!