Royal palm nesting killed last night

[mowgli]

I have four female royal palm turkeys.Two I found their nest inside a huge tree.They were sharing a nest and one was killed last night.Can I move her into a cage with her eggs. They were hand raised and are very tame.There is no feasible way to protect the site she chose.The third is nesting by my front porch so can be protected.The other female I haven’t found hers.If I move her and her eggs will she abandon sitting on them.Thanks for your help in advance.

 

[TexasTurkeyMama]

We had a Turkey we called Nervous Nellie. She made her own nest and we wanted her to nest in a portable coop. We tried to move her at dusk but she spooked and flew to the roosting tree. We moved her eggs to the coop and left it open. She actually came down after we withdrew. Success!

Just move the hen and the eggs quietly and efficiently at night and hopefully all will be well.

 

[TexasTurkeyMama]

We did actually move the portable coop right next to Nellie's homemade nest and prop open the door for her.

 

[mowgli]

Thank you.I slept on the couch last night with my German Shepherd puppy and she ran out and barked every two hours.I will prepare the coop today and move them tonight.She kept chasing something off.So exhausted.

 

[mowgli]

Should I put the male in with them? One female isn’t sitting her eggs full time yet she is still mating and making more.

 

[TexasTurkeyMama]

The hen you describe as still squatting for the Tom turkey is not setting yet. She should not go into a closed coop. Toms don't help with nesting, just fertilizing eggs. I would also leave the dog when you go to quietly and efficiently move a turkey hen and her nest. Ha ha.

 

[mowgli]

Thank you so much for your replies.This is so helpful

 

[TexasTurkeyMama]

Your mileage may vary. We have also lost nests because our setting hen would not accept her new digs. It sounds as though you might lose both nest and hen if you don't attempt to move your mommy turkey. Best wishes for a successful clutch!

 

[TexasTurkeyMama]

How did the nest transfer go?

 

[mowgli]

When I went down all the eggs were gone so this weekend locking the hen in large cage with the Tom.With other hen i am sleeping on the porch with my dog guarding her.Her nest is against the porch and safer.I hope it’s ok to lock the one hen up with the Tom until she starts nesting again.?