Odd behaviour

[Nagogx]

One of our hens has started acting strangely. She is making unusual noises, like she is distressed and is searching in the bushes and constantly pacing. Our other hen was mating with the tom over a month ago, but not sure about this bird. Anyone have any suggestions?

 

[rjohns39]

One of our hens has started acting strangely. She is making unusual noises, like she is distressed and is searching in the bushes and constantly pacing. Our other hen was mating with the tom over a month ago, but not sure about this bird. Anyone have any suggestions?

Can you capture a video of her doing it and post it?

 

[R2elk]

One of our hens has started acting strangely. She is making unusual noises, like she is distressed and is searching in the bushes and constantly pacing. Our other hen was mating with the tom over a month ago, but not sure about this bird. Anyone have any suggestions?

Not enough information to reach any conclusions. We need to know what your geographic location is and also the age of the hen.

Just offhand it sounds like you have a young hen that is getting ready to lay an egg but doesn't know what to do.

 

[staceyj]

How old is she?
Has she been laying yet?
I'm asking because I missed all the signs of a broody girl until she was deep in it.
In the beginning she too paced around complaining.

 

[Nagogx]

Not enough information to reach any conclusions. We need to know what your geographic location is and also the age of the hen.

Just offhand it sounds like you have a young hen that is getting ready to lay an egg but doesn't know what to do.

Hen is about 8 months old. We are in New Zealand and its the beginning of spring. If she is about to lay what should we do for her? Do turkeys need anything special provided? This would be the first egg for us .

 

[rjohns39]

Technically, they don't "need" anything, but if you want to find the eggs, give her a private place @R2elk has probably seen many more variants than I have. Some sort of simple lean-too that won't fall on her and put some straw or other bedding material in it so she can build her nest. Some build a box, others use a dog house. What ever it is should be at ground level, I think. None of mine have ever been interested in nesting off the ground.

 

[R2elk]

Hen is about 8 months old. We are in New Zealand and its the beginning of spring. If she is about to lay what should we do for her? Do turkeys need anything special provided? This would be the first egg for us .

It's the right time of year and the right age for her to be getting ready to lay an egg. If you aren't already giving her a quality layer feed, I would make sure that she has access to free choice oyster shell.

Some turkeys have crammed themselves into chicken nest boxes while others just crawl into a hidden space such as under a bush or in a bushy fence line. I currently have one that has made her nest in the middle of a tall patch of sweet clover. Once you find her nest site, leave a fake egg in it. Turkeys don't like their nests messed with and if you keep taking the eggs without leaving a fake egg, the hen will abandon the nest and make a new one.

Good luck.

 

[rjohns39]

It's the right time of year and the right age for her to be getting ready to lay an egg. If you aren't already giving her a quality layer feed, I would make sure that she has access to free choice oyster shell.

Some turkeys have crammed themselves into chicken nest boxes while others just crawl into a hidden space such as under a bush or in a bushy fence line. I currently have one that has made her nest in the middle of a tall patch of sweet clover. Once you find her nest site, leave a fake egg in it. Turkeys don't like their nests messed with and if you keep taking the eggs without leaving a fake egg, the hen will abandon the nest and make a new one.

Good luck.

Thanks R2 for jumping in.