Successful turkey mating?

[TurkeyKeeper]

A few days ago I got myself a nice looking Bourbon red turkey tom. He had been showing off to my broad breasted white girls and He managed to mate with one of them. I'm wondering if he successfully fertilized her or not. He didn't slip or fall off her and I think he accomplished his task. Do they usually fertilize the female first try? Can they even breed together?

 

[R2elk]

A few days ago I got myself a nice looking Bourbon red turkey tom. He had been showing off to my broad breasted white girls and He managed to mate with one of them. I'm wondering if he successfully fertilized her or not. He didn't slip or fall off her and I think he accomplished his task. Do they usually fertilize the female first try? Can they even breed together?

Depends on both the tom and hen. If the BBW are from last year's hatches they have a good chance of getting bred naturally as they are much more limber than older hens are.

I had a Bourbon Red tom that mated with a BBW. Her egg hatched a Red Bronze tom. More eggs probably would have hatched but I was new to incubating back then.

You best bet is to collect the eggs and incubate them yourself. BB turkeys can brood their own eggs but are not really good at it. When they do hatch any they often step on them squashing them. Some even break their own eggs from their weight and inability to step daintily like the heritage hens can.

Good luck.

 

[TurkeyKeeper]

Depends on both the tom and hen. If the BBW are from last year's hatches they have a good chance of getting bred naturally as they are much more limber than older hens are.

I had a Bourbon Red tom that mated with a BBW. Her egg hatched a Red Bronze tom. More eggs probably would have hatched but I was new to incubating back then.

You best bet is to collect the eggs and incubate them yourself. BB turkeys can brood their own eggs but are not really good at it. When they do hatch any they often step on them squashing them. Some even break their own eggs from their weight and inability to step daintily like the heritage hens can.

Good luck.

Thanks for the help. I believe my hen was born in October last year. She has been laying eggs. I was told that the tom is about a year and a half old. Can they mate even though one is around 6 months of age and the tom is a year and a half old?

 

[R2elk]

Thanks for the help. I believe my hen was born in October last year. She has been laying eggs. I was told that the tom is about a year and a half old. Can they mate even though one is around 6 months of age and the tom is a year and a half old?

Yes, they are both sexually mature. As young as she is, the better chance the breeding will be successful. The tom is in his 2nd year of mating.