Saw something today that made me respect turkeys

[stuckinthecity]

At the zoo we went to the petting farm section and began touring the barn and petting the animals. We came to a large 12x12 stall with chicken wire, so I immediately thought "oh chickens!" and ran over to look. It was 2 turkey hens who shared about 10 babies b/n them! And they were good mamas! They were pecking around and showing the babies what to eat, and not once did they step on any of the babies! I was impressed!

 

[A.T. Hagan]

If you have to get eggs out from under a determinedly broody turkey hen you'll learn to respect turkeys!

 

[lilchick]

Yes the momma hens are very good with their babies.
They also are careful not to step on eggs and newly hatched babes in the nest!
It is amazing how they do that.

 

[stuckinthecity]

Haha... A.T. Hagan, haven't had the pleasure....YET!
and lilchick, I know this doesn't pertain to all turkey moms, but I have seen some pretty bad mother turkeys. And dumb ones for that matter...But, then again chicken mothers are the same sometimes. I actually have a picture now that I have a new phone! Posting them today when I get home.

*Question, aren't poults very small hatching out compared to the size of their parents? I know turkeys are big, but I mean it just seemed like they weren't that much bigger then the older chicks I have!

 

[A.T. Hagan]

Quote:
Use one hand to distract her with and the other to get control of her head (don't squeeze!). You can then safely get the eggs.

*Question, aren't poults very small hatching out compared to the size of their parents? I know turkeys are big, but I mean it just seemed like they weren't that much bigger then the older chicks I have!

Yes, I'd say a newly hatched poult is rather smallish. At least my White Midgets were. Not terribly much bigger than the chickens they hatched with.

In a few weeks though they'll be much larger than the chickens.​

 

[stuckinthecity]

Here they are! Are those wild type hens or bronze? Or is the wild type bronze?

 

[the simple life]

I hatched some bourbon reds that were the same size as my chicks and are actually smaller than my partridge rock chicks that are the same age.
I picked up some day old broad breasted whites yesterday and I could not believe how much bigger they were, fat little roly poly thing.

 

[stuckinthecity]

Ew. If there's any turkey I DON'T like.... It's gotta be the broad breasted whites.