Turkeys breeding and environment

[Happy Camper]

My turkeys began doing the love dance yesterday so I think they will be mating really soon and I should get my first turkey eggs soon. I know all this by reading turkey related material, since this is my first experience with turkeys... I have 4 turkeys with 4 ducks and a goat share an open fenced area.

None of them enter the "area" I designated as the "safe" spot for them to lay. I think they won't lay in the open area right ?(since the goat may smash their eggs)... Should I just check daily and collect any layed eggs I found around and icubate or make additional arrangements for them to lay and let the hens deal w everything.

Another question: can they decide just not to lay because of their environment?

I'd love to hatch some turkey eggs...

AH, another question... will they still mate/breed/hatch if I just move them to a secluded area or fence them up in a safer spot (but much smaller) w/ nests and the works?

 

[Sunny Side Up]

I don't know the answers to your questions because I just recently began keeping turkeys. Here is what is happening at my place in SE Florida.

I have 3 turkeys, 2 toms & 1 hen. I've never seen them doing the "love dance" nor have I ever seen them actually "transacting business", didn't know if the toms were capable of mating with this hen. One tom is a Blue Slate, one tom is a Royal Palm mix, and the hen is some little brown-colored mix. Those last 2 were hatched here last summer.

I didn't even know the hen had begun laying until my son found her setting on a nest she'd made. Very fortunately she made her nest in a very safe place, a little secluded wire pen where I can latch her in for safety at night. I never let my hens of any type brood in a unprotected space, there are raccoons & opossums here who would harm them &/or their eggs.

I candled one of the eggs last night and saw veining & maybe a blob that is an embryonic turkey. I hope she has success with her hatch. And I hope your turkeys will also find the best place for their nests and hatch lots of poults for you!

 

[Happy Camper]

Yeah! Veins... always a great sign. I have chicken eggs in an incubator and will be checking for veins tomorrow. That is always such an exciting thing

I will be working on improving the nesting area and possibly separating them from the ducks and goat for a little while. Breeding season lasts only 6-8 weeks right? Which is not too long..

Enjoy your turkey hatch!