Strange Turkey Behaviour!

[justusnak]

OK, here is the scene..LOL
About 8 to 10 weeks ago, my turkey hatched out her nest. The babies are growing well and need momma less and less. Now, today I go in there...is another nest...with eggs in it!! She is the only laying hen I have...so they HAVE to be hers....I didnt know they would lay 2 sets in one year??

 

[ozark hen]

Lucky you, Debbie, my turkeys are just weeks old. So I can't help but thrilled you have turkeys, don't you just love them?

 

[justusnak]

Oh yes..I love my turkeys! My Royal palm tom is soooo pretty. He is breeding with a Blue Slate hen...thier babies are GORGOUS!!

 

[ozark hen]

Well, this is my first time with turkeys and I am in love

You must post some pics!!

 

[justusnak]

Ok, these are not the best pics...but its what I have now...here is Momma..Shadow...with her babies.

 

[ozark hen]

oh, that mama is pretty and those babies are so cute! How old are they now? I still have mine in a brooder box out in the coop with a light over them. I am afraid to turn them loose just yet. I have read so much about how delicate baby turkeys are so I am waiting on turning them loose into the summer brooder box, which is on the floor and just has chicken wire around the sides and top. they are now in a solid box about three feet off the floor with screened windows in the lid with lamps setting on the screen. think I am over protective? LOL when can I turn them loose into the floor brooder box? When can I turn them into the run? I am nuts about the turkeys....can you tell?? LOL OH, I had to put Scrapper(little brown rescue roo) into a pen by himself before the big blue roo kills him. Scrapper thinks he is as big as the big blue orp and I don't want to lose him. I told my dh I had better move the two young cockerals out there with him so he won't be lonely and poor Capt. Jack better go out there, too. I heard him screaming(like a girl!)this evening when the blue roo went into the coop. Poor little guys.

 

[justusnak]

I would say...if they have feathered out....turn em out. You might want to leave the light on, dureing the cooler nights. But, beware...at just a few weeks old...mine were flying up on top of the 8 ft fence!! I quickly covered it after one flew into the Barred Rock pen, and they killed it.

Mine still get under mommas wings...or even under the Toms wings at night. Wierd turkeys I tell ya! If you turn them out...make sure they have a place to get up off the ground at night, but keep the light covered with wire, they are not too smart, and WILL try to roost ON the light.

 

[Harp Turkey Ranch]

yes they can lay 2-3 clutches a year you might even get another in the fall ??

 

[justusnak]

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Thanks....I was just worried this would be hard on her...whew...I have a GOOD layer then! LOL

 

[ozark hen]

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wow, they fly that high at such a young age? Ok, that does it, they don't come out of the solid box for another couple weeks and then they have to stay in the summer brooder(has a lid)...maybe forever! LOL Thanks Deb.