Turkey hen question

Sebducks · **Joined:** Wed Mar 11, 2009 3:41 pm **Posts:** 812

My turkey hen just hatched poults. She is doing a fine job of looking after them but what I'd like to know is, if I take the poults away to raise them will she sit again this season?

Livo1964 · **Joined:** Fri Dec 17, 2010 6:03 pm **Posts:** 60

Mine have set eggs from July through to April if I take the poults away. I do prefer to let the hen raise them unless I want a large number.

CinnGuinea · **Posted:** Thu Nov 03, 2011 7:29 am

Do you take them away to get more chicks or because they are not so good mums?

Sebducks · **Joined:** Wed Mar 11, 2009 3:41 pm **Posts:** 812

This is my first time with my hen and this was her first clutch. From what I have witnessed with her, she sat tightly even through two thunderstorms with quite violent wind. She hatched out three poults and was very protective of them, calling softly and sheparding them around the yard. The problem was when she was chasing something off that came too close she'd leave the poults and fly off like a mad thing then come back and have to try to find them all again which was leaving them vunerable to attack.

I ended up catching her and penning her with her poults which has worked wonders, she's a great mother. I did try to take the poults away yesterday but she knew exactly where they were (upstairs in the brooder) so she stood on the bottom step and literally cried out for them for so long I gave in and penned her down the back with them.

andre · **Joined:** Tue Oct 13, 2009 5:21 pm **Posts:** 612

Seems that you don't have the heart to take the poults off her. But, if you were to, then I think she would probably lay another clutch before Christmas. However, the longer you leave it, the less likely she is to oblige!

CinnGuinea · **Posted:** Thu Nov 03, 2011 2:10 pm

Your a softie like me I aways give in when the crunch comes

Sebducks · **Joined:** Wed Mar 11, 2009 3:41 pm **Posts:** 812

Yes I gave in, I have sucker written all over me, its ok, I don't mind one clutch for her, first time mum and all the more important thing is she is good with them and looks after them well. Next season my lavender and whites will be ready so I will have more poults then. I love hearing the little noises she makes to them, I always assumed (and have read) they were terrible mothers.

Livo1964 · **Joined:** Fri Dec 17, 2010 6:03 pm **Posts:** 60

I take the eggs from one hen because she is not a good mother. She is too slow to leave the nest and the poults often starve. The other hen I let hatch her own because she is an excellent mother, very calm. Probably because I raise her from an egg. If I take the eggs I always add a couple of chicken eggs as the poults do so much better with a chick to show them how to feed.

CinnGuinea · **Posted:** Fri Nov 04, 2011 8:00 am

Its hard not to give in when you hear the cries of the chicks and then mum

Sebducks · **Joined:** Wed Mar 11, 2009 3:41 pm **Posts:** 812

Ah Livio1964 that is a great idea, hmm I wonder if she'll let me put a chicken down there with her? Possibly not at this late stage but I will certainly remember that for the future.

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Turkey hen question

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