temps are getting cold and turkey is broody

[chickenannie]

should I stop her? She's sitting on a nest of 10 turkey eggs all of a sudden. Is it feasible for chicks to hatch beginning of November in Penna. climate and survive with their mom only and without a brooder? It's already going down to 55 degrees at night.

 

[kstaven]

We have had turkey eggs hatch and chicks do well into the 40's with a good mother.

 

[Mahonri]

What great lengths a turkey will go, to avoid the axe next month.

 

[poultrykeeper08]

I dunno about turkeys but i drove by a lake that had overfload and there was 4 geese and a few hatchlings with them ! i couldnt believe it . I dunno why such a late hatch but they did it .

 

[chickenannie]

Hmmm, so far I have one vote to go ahead and let them hatch... anyone else?

Actually I have a broody hen and a turkey both fighting over the nest of turkey eggs, and I can't make them stop. Tonight, the fluffy hen was practically on top of broody turkey. They are just glaring at each other, not budging an inch, both trying to fluff out over the eggs, which I presume they've been doing all day! though I know it's not good, it made me laugh...

 

[poultrykeeper08]

i'd say go for it

 

[wilds of pa]

You could do it, however if it would get to cold you may have to take the poults from her and raise them inside until there fully feather, figure 28 day till they hatch, which will put you in mid Nov.. at least another 6-8 weeks for full feathering..early to late Jan 2009 it will be tough on such young poults at that age to winter well. Snow may present a problem as well with them if we would happen to get some....

I can tell you with my wilds, when those hens hatch poults out, they will not let you close to them until there ready to. Last year i had two hens each hatch a clutch and when i went in there pen every time to feed them, they sent me running a few time. they fly right at your head.
Now imagine me 216 lbs trying to get out of the way of hens coming at me... they are very protective of there poults. I know some of my hens would kill a chicken to defend the poults and there nest area....Now these girls are friendly as can be when not brooding or raising young..

Charlie

 

[poultrykeeper08]

You are right about them wild hens

I was walking in my back yard near som tall grass , When all of a sudden a buntch of wild turkey chicks started running out from the grass chirpen up a storm next thing i know i have a mother turkey flying at my face with her feet out in front of her trying to claw me or somthing . I grabbed ahold of her feet and legs and broght her to the ground . Waited for her to settle down and let he go and then she flew into a pine tree .
They can be nasty !!

 

[Bandana]

Can you provide a cozy nestbox of some sort for mama to lead her babies into when the weather starts to get really cold? If so, I'd let her do her thing.

 

[LinckHillPoultry]

I just had a hen hatch 9 turkey babies. They are about 5 days old right now and doing well.

When the temperatures really start to drop and they appear to still need warmth, I will bring them in to wait out the cold until I think they're ready for it.