Wild Turkey laid eggs in chicken yard

[5littlehenzz]

Hello, we recently found 15 wild turkey eggs and their mama in our chicken's yard. I have 5 hens. Have any of you had this sort of experience? I have heard varying opinions, but would like to hear from someone that's actually dealt with this,or knows facts...lol. It's a fairly large yard. Thank you in advance!

 

[R2elk]

Hello, we recently found 15 wild turkey eggs and their mama in our chicken's yard. I have 5 hens. Have any of you had this sort of experience? I have heard varying opinions, but would like to hear from someone that's actually dealt with this,or knows facts...lol. It's a fairly large yard. Thank you in advance!

I have had a wild turkey hen come in for the last seven years to get bred by my tom and then she would go down in my field and lay and hatch out her clutch of eggs.

My recommendation is that first you call your local Game Warden or local Game & Fish agency and follow their instructions. Other than that just keep your distance and leave her alone.

 

[5littlehenzz]

Thank you. We don't bother her at all. We discovered the eggs when we were weed-eating the yard,but have left them alone,and the turkey hen has come back to tend to them. I was just concerned that the chickens may harm the eggs or that the turkey and chickens wouldn't get along.

 

[R2elk]

Thank you. We don't bother her at all. We discovered the eggs when we were weed-eating the yard,but have left them alone,and the turkey hen has come back to tend to them. I was just concerned that the chickens may harm the eggs or that the turkey and chickens wouldn't get along.

I have my turkeys in with my chickens and the wild hen flies into the pen with them when she shows up in the spring. I have never had any trouble between my chickens and my visiting wild hen. Your visitor will not go looking for trouble with your chickens but she will defend her nest if the chickens go looking for trouble with her.

 

[5littlehenzz]

Thank you! The chickens have stayed near or in the coop mostly since she's come, they have a lot of room without going near her nest,and they haven't ventured near it thus far. Hopefully things will stay as peaceful as they've been