Turkey question

[Chickfever]

This may be a dumb question, but can a turkey hen lay eggs without a tom?

 

[jenjscott]

yep

 

[Struttn1]

Yep but they ain't gonna hatch unless she has been slipping out and breeding with the wild toms.

 

[Chickfever]

At what age do they normally start laying?

Yeah, I knew they wouldn't be fertile but didn't know if they would lay without a tom. I know chickens do without roos, but have never had turkeys before. My girl will be a year old in June and I'm anxiously awaiting her first egg!

Thanks!

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

It depends on the type of turkey as to when they start laying. The lighter breeds Midget White, Beltsville White will start laying about 6 months as they mature sooner the heavy breeds like a Standard Bronze will lay later.

If you hen will be a year in June she should be laying now. What are you feeding her? They can lay on a 16% layer but the eggs will be hit or miss. With a higher protien layer she will lay just like a chicken laying hen.

Steve in NC

 

[Chickfever]

16% layer. It was my only choice. Does TSC have anything higher?

She's a black spanish.

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

I don't know if they do our not, I kind of doubt it. If you have any extra eggs you can hard boil some back and feed them to her that will raise the protien or get a bag of cheap cat food - cat food is about 28 to 30% protien. Give her an extra handfull per day, you don't want to over do it.

Steve in NC

 

[Chickfever]

Quote:
My dh's uncle has tons of eggs so I'll boil some for her and I'll do the cat food too since we have cats. Should I give her the shells from the eggs too?

Thanks!

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

Yes on the shells, Just crush them up shell and all. Free calcium or would that be recycled calcium. We boil back for our birds year round it's a feeding frenzy when they see you coming with a pot of eggs.

Steve

 

[Chickfever]

I'll try it this afternoon. I'll let you know if this works.

Thanks again!