My Wild Turkey Hatched!!!!!Updated 7/18/08

[CVRS]

Hi Everyone!
This is my first visit here but from what I have already read, it seems like a great place

Last week someone brought me a dozen wild turkey eggs. While brush hogging he ran over the nest and the hen was killed

He rushed the eggs to me in hopes that we had a chicken setting, no luck. I put the eggs in a box and hung a flood light above it with a thermometer in there.
I put a bowl of water in with them too, for humidity. I turned the eggs a few times a day. Yesterday it was obvious that two of the eggs were no good as they were leaking, the shell was falling off and we could see that the peep was not alive. We listened to the other eggs and we could hear the peeps pecking the shell. This morning we had one hatch and as far as we can see there are at least 2 more that are trying to make their way out

I would have been thrilled with just one making it as we had no idea how long the hen was setting. Now to have at least 3 is exciting. The only problem I now have is I heard it was illegal to have them in PA! I run a rescue & sanctuary mainly for horses but I say animals so I am hoping even though I do not have a license noone will try to take them.
Now I am more concerned with what I am to be feeding the little turks? We have chicken peeps right now and they are on medicated feed. I was wondering if that would be ok for the turks or will that kill them? I read I could give them water (was told to put stones/rocks in the water ot they will drown themselves) within 24 hours. Right now I have them in a small box but plan on moving them to a bigger cage once the hatching process is over

I would so appreciate any suggestions/input.
My son and the boy I babysit actually got to see the whole process from the first pecks to the hatching and I did a small video of it.

THANK YOU in advance....
Beth

 

[Oblio13]

Quote:
Post some pics!

 

[warcard]

Double check the illegal in PA thing. We bought some wild turkeys from a guy in PA, and I don't think he had a special permit.

 

[CVRS]

Thank you - I am checking on the law. It was hearsay so I want to be sure

I would love to share the video but when I uploaded to Photobucket it was blurry

 

[CVRS]

FYI - I just found out it is indeed a violation in PA to have wild turkey eggs or peeps.
I have a call into a wildlife rehabilitator. I am waiting on a return call so I can turn them over to her

 

[cgjsmith]

Since they look so much like bronze poults could you say you thought they were bronze i was old for adults as long as you don't keep them contained in a fence then its alright. I plan on saying I don't know how those turkeys got in my fence.....Crystal
just edited to say the same thing happened to us, friend bushogged a turkey nest and now we have hatched 6 or 7 wild poults under a broody hen. C

 

[Chick_in_Indiana]

 

[ticks]

Permits are cheap. Not a bad idea to get one.

 

[Blisschick]

I love new churks!! They're so sweet and cute, but boy are they loud!

I do know that in Texas (and probably other states) that you can have wild turkeys if they are from a breeder, but you aren't supposed to take any from wild nests. You also cannot release domestically raised wild turkeys into the wild because they can potentially carry diseases to the wild population, which could be devastating. I have read in a couple places where wild turkeys will start to hang out in public places where they are fed by the public and eventually are destroyed by the game wardens because they've become "domesticated" and aren't afraid of people. They can easily become nusainces like deer when large numbers come together.