letting a hen sit on her eggs...what do do? What to expect?

[ma2babygurl13]

Ok so since I don't live where my Turkeys do I only get to go out there like once a day when we feed and water them, How do I know if the hen is actually sitting on the nest? Is there a way to set her up to find out if she is or not?

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

You could go out at different times during the day and see if she is there, mark all the eggs in the nest now and see if more are being added. It will still be hard to tell is she is sitting without spending more time out there watching.

Steve in NC

 

[ma2babygurl13]

She is definately sitting now We caught her in the act...and then tonight when we fed her she got up when we got there, drank some fresh water pecked at the food and right back to the nest she went

YEAH!!!

 

[erthymom2]

I have been following this topic as well - i have a new mated pair of Royal Palms and w/in a week of coming to us, she has laid 6 eggs already in her extra large dog crate in the turkey pen. it's just her and her man in there. They are good sized eggs too.

Question - Do i pull the tom out now so she can be alone to lay then brood, or wait until she has her full clutch in place and is steady sitting?

I have two other RP hens that the tom will go over to service when i move him and once they start to lay, do i take him out away from the hens too?

 

[chickenannie]

Take the tom out because he may try to get on her back while she's nesting and crush the eggs.

Once they mate, the eggs she lays can remain fertilized up to 14-30 days ( so she only needs to be with the tom one time to get a whole nest of fertile eggs). The hens seem to know this, as they will only go to the tom once in a while.

Congrats by the way!

 

[erthymom2]

Quote:
Thank you for the response and advice.
He will get later moved tonight now that he's quiet...he'll think he's dreaming wakin' up in a new pen with not one hottie hen but two with him tomorrow morning !! LOL

 

[ma2babygurl13]

She now has a week to go... there is a hen in the pen with her who is now bugging her to get off the nest... would it hurt to gather the eggs and put them in an incubator for the last week? Or should I just let them be?

 

[ohiofarmgirl]

i'd let them be and boot the other hen out. can you put some wire around your setting hen to protect her?? or maybe take a piece of plywood and make a lean-to over her??? momma raised is much easier than brooding them yourself!