Turkey missing

[natcave]

Hi everyone,
My female turkey has been missing for over 5 hours now and i am concerned she may have been stolen or she is nesting? The problem is she already has had babies within the last 3 months and my question is how often do turkeys nest? She has 4 babies here with us and they are extremely stressed

 

[Rhodeislandsilkie]

Hi, sorry I one is replying. I never had a turkey but, maybe I can help. Do, you know if your turkey was mating with any other turkeys? Also, who do you think would steal your turkey? Are there any predators around? As for the chicks, I would maybe watch them closely and take care of them until the mom comes back. She might have just went to nest again. I hope she comes back!

 

[natcave]

Hi, sorry I one is replying. I never had a turkey but, maybe I can help. Do, you know if your turkey was mating with any other turkeys? Also, who do you think would steal your turkey? Are there any predators around? As for the chicks, I would maybe watch them closely and take care of them until the mom comes back. She might have just went to nest again. I hope she comes back!

We do also have a male turkey, but its very unlike her not to come running when her babies are crying out for her. I am thinking my neighbor or some stranger has come and stolen her

 

[Rhodeislandsilkie]

Maybe you should ask your neighbors and, ask them if they’ve seen you’re turkey. Do, you have any security cameras that might have filmed your turkey? I really hope you find your turkey!

 

[ZaHen]

Hi everyone,
My female turkey has been missing for over 5 hours now and i am concerned she may have been stolen or she is nesting? The problem is she already has had babies within the last 3 months and my question is how often do turkeys nest? She has 4 babies here with us and they are extremely stressed

Has she proven herself to be a good mother before? If yes, it would be very unusual for her to leave her poults, as hens with good maternal instincts are very protective. I thought heritage breeds only have a clutch in the spring, but, it sounds like you had a more recent brood? To my knowledge they only naturally lay a clutch of eggs, and raise poults, once a year. I don’t know where you are located, so was it dusk when she went missing? If she disappeared around dusk, it seems more likely she was grabbed by a predator - what do you have in your area? If she isn’t all that maternal, she maybe “done” with raising those poults, and went to roost somewhere on her own, most likely in the tree branches, or some other elevated perch. Turkeys, when left to their own devices, are notorious about roosting outside of any shelters we make for them - even out in terrible weather! If you could look for her up in any nearby tree branches, or other elevated places (high deck railings, fences, etc.), perhaps you will find her. I hope someone didn’t steal her, but whenever I’ve predator-proofed my coops, or took deterrent measures for my yard, one of the predators on my list to consider have always included humans.