Turkenstein25's Turkey Talk for 2015

[Book Em Danno25]

Hello? This thread shouldnt be dead already!!

 

[ACSchueler]

We have a trio of turkeys and the hens starting laying this week! Were so excited as we didn't expect them to start until spring because they'll be just a year old. We would like to collect them to incubate... Is this process any different with turkeys than chickens? How many days can we keep collecting before putting in incubator? Any tips would be great, thanks!!

 

[chknoodles]

No it's not dead...we are just all hanging, waiting for that day...and TODAY was our day. First turkey egg of the year from our Oklahoma Heritage Poultry line show quality Narragansett!!

 

[chknoodles]

We have a trio of turkeys and the hens starting laying this week! Were so excited as we didn't expect them to start until spring because they'll be just a year old. We would like to collect them to incubate... Is this process any different with turkeys than chickens? How many days can we keep collecting before putting in incubator? Any tips would be great, thanks!!

So excited for you. We got our first egg today. Incubating turkey eggs...temp at 100.5 and humidity varies depending on your area. This time of year, we incubate at 45% and increase it to 55% at lockdown which is on day 25, and they start hatching around day 28. Sometimes, if we have room, we add some chicken eggs to the incubator at day 7 so we will have tutor chicks to teach the poults where the food and water are. You know that poults are not born, like chickens, with the urge to hunt for food.

 

[chknoodles]

So excited for you. We got our first egg today. Incubating turkey eggs...temp at 100.5 and humidity varies depending on your area. This time of year, we incubate at 45% and increase it to 55% at lockdown which is on day 25, and they start hatching around day 28. Sometimes, if we have room, we add some chicken eggs to the incubator at day 7 so we will have tutor chicks to teach the poults where the food and water are. You know that poults are not born, like chickens, with the urge to hunt for food.

oops..forgot to add..that like chicken eggs..the fresher the better. The standing rule is to try to get those eggs in the incubator within 10 days of being laid.

 

[ACSchueler]

oops..forgot to add..that like chicken eggs..the fresher the better.  The standing rule is to try to get those eggs in the incubator within 10 days of being laid.

Thanks for all the info! Ours are Narragansetts also

 

[csaiz100]

3 Red Bourbons got the as poults middle of last year from my feed store - lucked out - 1 tom and 2 hens. I think they are going to lay eggs soon. Do they hid the eggs in unlikely places?

 

[feedman77]

Hens will lay where they feel safe. Found some from my hens in brushpiles. Middle of the yard. Under a rarely used car. And a barrel flower pot.
I had one hen that just dropped eggs where she was at when it was time.

 

[racinchickins]

If you find the eggs in a nest. Make sure to leave some fake eggs there when you take their eggs. My hens will go find another nest if they think something has disturbed their nest. It doesn't need to be a 1:1 replacement either. I put two wooden eggs in, and they continue using the nest as long as they are laying.

 

[Nivek]

Thanks for the heads up. I didn't think turkeys would start laying this early. Weekend project is now making nesting boxes and getting some fresh hay for the ladies.