The hen who wanted to be a turkey

Maiahr

Crowing
Jul 21, 2019
1,077
2,388
336
Bulgaria, a country in Eastern Europe
My Coop
My Coop
This year one of my turkeys went broody for the first time. She chose a nest in the coop and I put 13 eggs under her. Every day a chicken hen would lay an egg in the same nest where the turkey was, even though there were other free nests. 3 days before hatching day the chicken hen decided she wants to hatch too, so she just remained in the same nest (with the turkey), she dragged some of the eggs under her and they both together hatched the 13 eggs which I initially put under the turkey. I tried several ways to separate them, like moving the hen in a different nest with some of the baby turkeys. She would not stay there, she would immediately go back in the 'joint' nest. I tried putting chicks under the hen, she rejected them, she wanted her baby turkeys. So now, day 2 they are still together in the same nest, during the day walking outside always both together with all the baby turkeys.
 

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This year one of my turkeys went broody for the first time. She chose a nest in the coop and I put 13 eggs under her. Every day a chicken hen would lay an egg in the same nest where the turkey was, even though there were other free nests. 3 days before hatching day the chicken hen decided she wants to hatch too, so she just remained in the same nest (with the turkey), she dragged some of the eggs under her and they both together hatched the 13 eggs which I initially put under the turkey. I tried several ways to separate them, like moving the hen in a different nest with some of the baby turkeys. She would not stay there, she would immediately go back in the 'joint' nest. I tried putting chicks under the hen, she rejected them, she wanted her baby turkeys. So now, day 2 they are still together in the same nest, during the day walking outside always both together with all the baby turkeys.
What a great friendship. :love Everything should be fine because if there was a issue between the two mom's you would definitely know by now. There would be dead babies and alot of fighting going on between the two mommy's. Would be a good idea to keep a close eye on them anyways. Somthing might change down the road. I hope not..
Have you shared this story with the chicken people? There is a great thread to share such a story on and they are great people.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-24774048
 
August 2021 update - everything went fine, the turkeys are now grown up. Both mamas a broody again, this time I separated them in two nests next to each other, both hatching chicken eggs, of course, due at the same day.
How wonderful 🥰
Please post some pictures❤️
 

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