Newbie Qs - turkey poults, vacation, maternity pen?

[dreamingbig]

Hi newbie here. I recently moved into a new house and the previous owners left us two bourbon red turkeys. The hen is laying eggs and I found one nest with one egg and one nest with three eggs. We are going on vacation towards the end of May. I wanted to incubate some eggs but with my vacation I'm worried about leaving the poults. It seems a lot to ask For someone to watch the poults. I am thinking I might just let the hen raise the poults. Last year the previous owners said a lot of poults were lost to predators. I'm trying to figure out if we should build some type of brooder ? Pen. The turkeys are currently within a 1 acre enclosure with 6 foot fencing. But every night the mating pair flies out of the enclosure and they have to be let inside in the morning. Can anyone advise what we might do to protect the poults while I'm vacation? I was considering constructing a seperate pen with a spot for the hen to roost and chickenwire to keep the poults inside. But I have no idea how large this should be or what features to include. At what age can the poults be with the general flock? I am totally overwhelmed. Sorry for the rambling. Any advice would be welcome. Or pictures of enclosures for hen and poults!!

 

[kuntrygirl]

Just saw your post. Trying to answer all unanswered posts. Sorry.

You're a newbie right? How long will you be on vacation? When are you leaving to go on vacation? You are wanting to put eggs in the incubator while you are on vacation????????????????

I would NOT let anyone watch after my poults if I were on vacation . It is TOO much for a new person to do. They will kill the poults if they do not know what they are doing. Caring for chicks is not the same as caring for poults. You are in another league with poults.

You will need a secured pen for the hen if she laying on eggs (especially if you will leave her to set on eggs). She will need an area where predators can't get to her or the eggs. She will need food and water near her.

I hate to tell you but your poults will be dead when you return from vacation. Too much is going on over there. Turkeys not secure, predators, no brooder for poults, Tom and hen together (tom WILL kill those poults if he is near them). It will be bad when you return. Not sure what else to tell you but that is what I'm seeing in your turkey future. You are asking for trouble. Sorry. :/

If you are overwhelmed right now and concentrating on going on vacation, do not plan to hatch any poults. If the hen goes broody during your time away, then oh well. But I would not plan on having poults hatched.

My advice to you is:
1. Learn more about raising and caring for poults
2. Do not be away if you are planning on hatching poults and want them to stay alive.
3. Learn more about raising and caring for poults.

Please read these threads for more help.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/761082/questions-for-experienced-turkey-enthusiast


https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/725829/turkeys-for-2013

 

[dreamingbig]

Thank you very much for the response. We leave the end of May so I have some time to do things around here. I WAS (Originally) hoping to hatch some turkeys but reconsidered when the hen just started laying and I realized it probably wouldn't be the best plan this year. However, she is laying now and last year, the previous owners did let her raise poults. If that happens this year, then I'd like to let her raise the poults. No I will not be incubating eggs while on vacation. We will be gone one week. I do have a friend that used to raise and sell turkeys and I am hoping he will help turkey sit while we are gone.

Since we have 1.5 months, we have time to make the hen a more secure location and we are trying to brainstorm ideas (hence my post) on what would be the best enclosure for her (to seperate her and the tom, keep the babies safe from predators, provide proper protection, shelter, feeding/watering, roosting, etc). I am doing my best to read posts, research online, etc, but I have found that the information doesn't seem as available or plentiful as raising chickens. My husband and I are engineers... believe me, we don't do anything without thinking it through, researching, and planning the best we can. Unfortunately, the vacation was planned and paid for before we even found this house in our house search.

Thanks - I will continue reading and prepare the best we can in the even the hen goes broody.

 

[Celie]

Have you considered not letting her keep any eggs, until you leave for your vacation or until you return and then let her brood some eggs when you return? It will still be more than enough summer for her to brood, hatch and raise a clutch ! You can then enjoy your vacation without worrying about your turkeys!

 

[flocksalot]

We put our broody hens each into a LARGE wire dog crate in a secure building. For some that's my basement. It just depends on the time of year. We use a large cardboard box cutdown on one side. Provide fresh water and feed. Clean out the large poop they do daily when they get up to eat. It's more than enough room, it can be covered to keep it dark and private, and being in a secure building is safe.

When the poults hatch and are running around and eating we give them more room, but still secure.

Harvey Girl here is in a small hoop house with wood framed floor. It's only covered with a tarp as she is still in the house, but if shenwere elsewhere it would be covered with wire. Hens do not roost when they have poults. They will stay on the floor with them.