New to turkeys....question

[Old McDonald 27]

Hi! This is my first post. I have been lurking for a while, but now I have questions! Let me just start by saying that I grew up on a cattle ranch and we had tons of chickens, but never had turkeys so I am completely open to all advice and suggestions! I recently purchased a pair of royal palms (just for pets, cause I think they are pretty) they were hatched last spring, but I don't know the exact age. My tom has really been strutting alot and the hen lays down on the ground while he is strutting. (is that good?) they are in about a one acre pasture with my 2 goats. I have read that turkeys like to nest in crazy strange places especially brush piles. I have alot of old plastic dog houses (i used to breed boston terriers) so I cleaned one really well then put hay in it and put it in the middle of a group of small trees and covered it with limbs and branches. Do you think there is any chance she will nest there? She hasn't laid any eggs yet....with all of the strutting and laying on the ground is she probably getting ready to start laying???(I told ya'll I am a complete turkey newbie!) Also I have been thinking about getting another hen. I had a really hard time finding the rp's in my area so I am thinking maybe I'll get a bourbon red or blue slate hen. They are more common here. any clue what the offspring would look like?? Sorry this is so long....I'll try to keep it shorter next time

 

[Struttn1]

The hen squatting for the strutting gobbler is a very good thing. She is in the breeding position.

If your birds are not confined to a pen she may already have a nest hidden in a fencerow or thick grass and may already be laying.

 

[Buck Creek Chickens]

or under the porch. mine have a communal nest under there. I keep 2 wooden eggs in the nest so they keep comming back if you take all the eggs they find a new spot.

 

[Old McDonald 27]

I kept them penned up for a while after I got them and they have been with the goats since then. I don't think she has started laying yet, but I really hope she does like the nest I made for her. My goat is really close to kidding and I worry about curious and playful goat kids disturbing a nest. The only other option I have for a pen I the horse pasture. It is about 4 acres and is in goat wire also, but the turkeys can get out because it has a regular gate. (they fit thru the bars) I hope it works out well. I was just planning to let her hatch her own poults and not use an incubator. Would the incubator be a better option? I really think I am gonna get a bourbon red hen. I am looking at some this weekend! My friends already want some of those poults!

 

[Struttn1]

If they are not wing clipped flying over a horse or goat fence is nothing to a Royal Palm. Hens are very sneaky when slipping off to their nest.

 

[LoveMyBirds]

Quote:
Are you around during the day where you can watch and see if she disappears for a long period of time. Or maybe even watch to where she goes..

I noticed about 3 days ago that one of my Bourbon Reds was absent from the others.. I use my mouth to sound like them to get their attention...

Anyway, she came down from my woods behind the chicken/turkey pens..

Today I notice she was gone again.. I walked up along a bunch of brush and fallen trees expecting to find her there, but she wasn't.

I then started to make a pass up into the woods when I say her under a very small bush.. I walked over to her and she was placing leaves over her eggs.. I eased down and robbed her nest then took her to the house and locked her in it...

Now if she will just start setting there, we'll both be happy..

 

[Old McDonald 27]

I am usually here all day. She hasn't gotten out of the goat pasture. It is 5ft tall goat wire. Her wings are clipped so she can't fly. I don't think she has started laying yet. When she does, would I be better off to let her hatch them or should I get an incubator? Is there a higher sucess rate with her raising them or if I do it? I thought that I would let her hatch them the first time and see how that goes, but now I am worried about my tom or the goats hurting the poults??? So....to incubate or not to incubate....that is the question????