Where will my turkeys lay their eggs?

[ChickenCanoe]

I used to make fake eggs out of water putty. Ugly but effective.

 

[mfr4550]

Just because you don't see the interest between the toms and the hens does not mean it isn't already going on. It is already breeding season and laying season is not far off.

If you intend to allow your hens to go broody, it is best to either remove the tom from the nesting area once the hens have started sitting or make enclosures around the nests with openings that are small enough to prevent the tom from entering and large enough that the hens can pass through.

Toms take a hen sitting on a nest as an invitation to breed. The unwanted breeding attempts can end up in smashed eggs, injured hens or at the worst the hen can be mortally wounded.

No one sells fake turkey eggs. I personally use fake ceramic goose eggs. Fake chicken eggs can be used whether wooden or ceramic. You can use Sculpey Oven Bake Clay to make your own fake turkey eggs. I used it to make my own fake guinea eggs because like turkey eggs, no one sells fake guinea eggs.[/QUOTE

Excellent points. My hesitation to culling a turkey is that last year, I had a similar set up - 2 hens & 2 toms, all midget whites. September- October the toms decided to roam the neighborhood- which resulted in animal control being called so I had to lock up the toms. I never did see any amorous activity or fighting at anytime. In November, I culled the smaller tom & let the other one out. He turned out to be so aggressive, attacking every female human or child of any sex, so he was culled too. Any advise on choosing a Tom? My two Bourbon Reds look the same to me, they stay in the yard & as of now, walk around peacefully displaying.

I’m not worried about outside predators now b/c I have two 150 pound dogs who’s area boarders most of the chicken/turkey area. Plus even before the dogs, I’ve never lost a grown chicken - only eggs. I’m not sure if cats or skunks got the chicks. I know that skunks do come in and steal eggs but I’m not sure if they’d be bold enough to steal from a broody turkey.

 

[R2elk]

Excellent points. My hesitation to culling a turkey is that last year, I had a similar set up - 2 hens & 2 toms, all midget whites. September- October the toms decided to roam the neighborhood- which resulted in animal control being called so I had to lock up the toms. I never did see any amorous activity or fighting at anytime. In November, I culled the smaller tom & let the other one out. He turned out to be so aggressive, attacking every female human or child of any sex, so he was culled too. Any advise on choosing a Tom? My two Bourbon Reds look the same to me, they stay in the yard & as of now, walk around peacefully displaying.

You don't have to cull the extra tom, just pen it somewhere that the two toms can't see each other. If they are separated by a see through fence, they will spend the day trying to fight through the fence instead of attending the hens. You could separate them into two breeding groups but the hens will be better off if all four of them only have the one tom to deal with.

The behavior of your previous toms is pretty typical of toms that were imprinted as poults and lost the ability to understand that people aren't just strange looking turkeys. I go out of my way to avoid imprinting poults. I want mine to grow up to be turkeys and not my buddies.

Choose your tom based on temperament and conformation. The APA has an SOP for Bourbon Reds.

I’m not worried about outside predators now b/c I have two 150 pound dogs who’s area borders most of the chicken/turkey area. Plus even before the dogs, I’ve never lost a grown chicken - only eggs. I’m not sure if cats or skunks got the chicks. I know that skunks do come in and steal eggs but I’m not sure if they’d be bold enough to steal from a broody turkey.

Skunks have no problem taking turkey eggs right out from under turkey hens. They have no problem taking live poults also.

I used to leave the skunks alone (better mousers than cats are) right up until they started taking turkey eggs out from under the broody turkey hens. I would wake up in the middle of the night to a turkey raising a ruckus because a skunk was stealing her eggs. I now keep a live trap baited with eggs and invite all egg eaters (cats, skunks, raccoons) to become a part of my soil enrichment program.

I have lost more poultry to other people's dogs than to any other predator. If any of my poultry were stupid enough to enter my dog's pen, I lost them to my own dog.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Yeah. I wouldn't be quick to cull a tom when I only have one other.
You don't want to go through life without a tom or rooster.

 

[Hamiltoncolin25]

No one sells fake turkey eggs. I personally use fake ceramic goose eggs. Fake chicken eggs can be used whether wooden or ceramic. You can use Sculpey Oven Bake Clay to make your own fake turkey eggs. I used it to make my own fake guinea eggs because like turkey eggs, no one sells fake guinea eggs.

Outa curiosity, can one use a golf ball or is it to little to convince turkey hens. Also this is just a side thing that isn't a big deal, but is there any other poultry that live peacefully with turkeys(I know chickens aren't good, and not really wanting waterfowl), I was thinking maybe pheasants, but is there any other suggestions, and would I have to worry about cross breading. More important thing is the golf ball, as i may not get any more poultry as i'm satisfied with my turkey trio

 

[R2elk]

Outa curiosity, can one use a golf ball or is it to little to convince turkey hens. Also this is just a side thing that isn't a big deal, but is there any other poultry that live peacefully with turkeys(I know chickens aren't good, and not really wanting waterfowl), I was thinking maybe pheasants, but is there any other suggestions, and would I have to worry about cross breading. More important thing is the golf ball, as i may not get any more poultry as i'm satisfied with my turkey trio

I seriously doubt that a turkey would go for golf balls. Sometimes fake chicken eggs will work. I use the ceramic goose eggs.

No matter what you put with turkeys, they need lots of room. Cross breeding is not an issue between turkeys and other species. Attempted breeding with smaller species can end badly for the smaller species.

 

[Hamiltoncolin25]

I seriously doubt that a turkey would go for golf balls. Sometimes fake chicken eggs will work. I use the ceramic goose eggs.

No matter what you put with turkeys, they need lots of room. Cross breeding is not an issue between turkeys and other species. Attempted breeding with smaller species can end badly for the smaller species.

goal is to not have cross breeding, for now just gonna keep my trio of turkeys, but thanks for the suggestion on the fake goose egg

 

[Molpet]

goal is to not have cross breeding, for now just gonna keep my trio of turkeys, but thanks for the suggestion on the fake goose egg

My turkeys figured out fake chicken eggs after a while. I mark the first turkey eggs and use them as bait eggs where I want them to lay... they have their own ideas of where a good spot is though