Turkey hen laying in the field!

[Lizzie2]

Good morning from Texas! I am new to these turkeys and my hen has flown the coop. She is nesting in an open field. Should I build a protective pen around her and will the eggs survive alot of rain?

 

[cassidy22]

You can either try to build a pen around her, with protection over her nest to keep it dry. OR you can collect her up and pen her someplace closer to home. It is REALLY hard to convince turkeys to nest where you want them too. Mine wander off, too, and are often picked off by coyotes before their nest hatches. They really have a strong drive to go find their own nest, unlike chickens who happily lay in the boxes you provide for them.

 

[kuntrygirl]

You can either try to build a pen around her, with protection over her nest to keep it dry. OR you can collect her up and pen her someplace closer to home. It is REALLY hard to convince turkeys to nest where you want them too. Mine wander off, too, and are often picked off by coyotes before their nest hatches. They really have a strong drive to go find their own nest, unlike chickens who happily lay in the boxes you provide for them.

I agree. It's hard to move a broody turkey hen. :/

 

[Lizzie2]

Thanks for the info! I built a pen around her with pvc pipe and chicken wire and covered it with a tarp. The wind is so blooming strong, the rains came and temperature dropped I'm afraid all got wet. I did put a bucket of water and a tray of feed out there too. Gosh, I worry about my animals sooo much. Love it all though!

 

[GWGF]

my hens refuse to nest where I want them to *L*

Even though they are free range - they have recently decided that the dog pen was a good place to lay....and the dogs ate all the eggs Trying to convince the turkeys to lay somewhere else even after this incident has been impossible. I am considering penning them up somewhere else for awhile (maybe until they start laying again?) then letting them back out.

 

[Lizzie2]

I was saddened to see the turkey eggs under water in the field after 4 inches of rain even though I had tarped the temporary pen. I wore gloves and moved the eggs inside my permanent structure onto a nest of hay and grass and penned her in. Last time I checked, she had not gotten back on her nest. I'm so disappointed and very sad.

 

[Wayne&Kim1963]

I made a square wire cage that can be closed and I put their nest in it and put it where they are sitting with their eggs in it to keep them safe from stuff getting her. I open it in am and close it at night and then after they get used to cage I move cage to a safer spot but not with all the other chickens or everyone else turkeys like to be alone. I also use a large dog house like you buy at lowes or atwoods and put their eggs and their nest in there and for 3 days just turn them off it for 30 min and put them up on their nest and lock them on it with grate from old refridg or pice of wire that i prop in front of door.. They will move most of time but can be time consuming for 3 days. Then open in am and close up at night. They like their privacy. I will have to take picture of my turkey setting and her setup tomorrow and show you if I get chance. I have turkey setting on 20 some eggs and she can get off and on as she pleases and she took nest just fine was sitting in chicken house but she is one of my older turkeys and used to me moving her and putting her were she is suppose to be. If you catch the turkey in act of laying out and make her go to house and take her eggs she will move place to lay. Maybe to place where she is suppose to and maybe not.

So sorry your eggs were under water sometimes it is tough when egg setting doesn't work out. Especially beens you worked so hard to save them. I hate it when it doesn't work out but with animals they can be hard to reason with sometimes.

 

[Lizzie2]

Thanks for this information. I love the interest on this web forum and how helpful everyone is. I try so hard to make my animals comfortable and have a happy life and it hurts so bad when there is a problem. The poor girl still set on those eggs out there in the water and colder temps. Is it for sure that the eggs will not develop now? I just want to cry.

 

[Wayne&Kim1963]

no not for sure not develop. If you don't have candel light use a good flashlight. Put your fingers around egg to block out all light and you can see in the egg and see if baby is developing or moving to see if they are alive when it is dark. If anything you can see how develped they are to know if they are growing cause if they are the dark area will get bigger if they aren't the dark area won't change.

 

[Lizzie2]

Oh yea, I forgot about checking them. hanks you just gave me hope!!!