Hello All,
I have been raising my chickens for over 7 years, and over time, I have lost a few. That's to be expected. We live in a rural area with a trailhead across the street from us. It is a typical dumping ground for animals...that is how I was adopted by 3 kittens. But about 3 months ago, a turkey hen was dumped, and I swiftly put her into our yard before she was hit by any cars...she was pacing our fence line in distress. Anyway, she was owned by someone because her flight feathers had been cut. No one claimed her when I posted about the hen, so she became a part of my little flock. Within 3 weeks, she had gone brooding, laying 17 eggs in total over time. I read that turkeys can be fertilized three weeks before laying/going brooding, so I let her run the cycle with no chicks after 30 days. I have a great setup with a safe coop that opens to a covered run with further access to the outside for free ranging. DH and I have been physically putting the hen inside the coop at night with my other chickens, and she's able to make it outside each morning. I have read about blackhead, and most of the posts only show parts of the organs after the turkey has died. I know nothing about turkeys and would like some information on exterior symptoms so that I can be aware should the hen start behaving oddly. Also, regarding the coop, we have installed/fastened a 5" diameter rod inside the coop, but the hen only wants to roost on our fence gate. Hence, the reason we have to physically put her inside the coop at night. We want her to be safe from predatory wildlife and prep her for the winter, as it can get below freezing with pretty horrific gusty winds. Will the hen eventually learn to go into the coop at night?
I have been raising my chickens for over 7 years, and over time, I have lost a few. That's to be expected. We live in a rural area with a trailhead across the street from us. It is a typical dumping ground for animals...that is how I was adopted by 3 kittens. But about 3 months ago, a turkey hen was dumped, and I swiftly put her into our yard before she was hit by any cars...she was pacing our fence line in distress. Anyway, she was owned by someone because her flight feathers had been cut. No one claimed her when I posted about the hen, so she became a part of my little flock. Within 3 weeks, she had gone brooding, laying 17 eggs in total over time. I read that turkeys can be fertilized three weeks before laying/going brooding, so I let her run the cycle with no chicks after 30 days. I have a great setup with a safe coop that opens to a covered run with further access to the outside for free ranging. DH and I have been physically putting the hen inside the coop at night with my other chickens, and she's able to make it outside each morning. I have read about blackhead, and most of the posts only show parts of the organs after the turkey has died. I know nothing about turkeys and would like some information on exterior symptoms so that I can be aware should the hen start behaving oddly. Also, regarding the coop, we have installed/fastened a 5" diameter rod inside the coop, but the hen only wants to roost on our fence gate. Hence, the reason we have to physically put her inside the coop at night. We want her to be safe from predatory wildlife and prep her for the winter, as it can get below freezing with pretty horrific gusty winds. Will the hen eventually learn to go into the coop at night?
