when do turkey hens start to lay?

[trunkman]

My hen is 6 months old and I am wondering if she will start to lay any time soon, do they lay this time of year or start in early spring?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Most breeds at about 20 weeks or so, some earlier, some much later.
When pullets approach laying age this time of year (diminishing day light), it usually takes longer.
If you want to kick it into gear, put a light in the coop on a timer that comes on about 4 AM and in about 2 weeks you'll get eggs.

 

[trunkman]

Chickencanoe, I know that about chickens, but is it the same way with turkeys?

 

[Agdketo]

My turkey hen has been laying for the last couple of weeks. I think she is around 7 months.

 

[trunkman]

I better start thinking about making nesting boxes for them pretty quickly then!!

 

[Agdketo]

I'm using a large dog house and my hen loves it. Do your turkeys free range?

 

[trunkman]

Yes they do free range, but since I have 2 toms that are starting to fight I think I'm going to have to pen them up in separate pens with their own hens to keep them from fighting and ruining my gardens.

 

[cheepguy]

As a rule, turkeys do not use nesting boxes.

 

[nhrocks]

I just got an egg from my blue slates! They are 20 weeks exactly. Wasnt expecting anything until spring, but they do sleep in the chicken coop, and I'm increasing their artificial light period, so that may have triggered it. I have them up to 12 hours of light at this point, slowly working up to 14 HR to get my pullets going.

Oh. And she laid it in the chicken nest box. Must've been a tight squeeze!