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Post by hornharvester on May 18, 2011 7:57:02 GMT -5
My property didn't have any turkey on it until Sunday. I was walking in a CRP field and flushed a hen off her nest. She had 8 eggs. Ive never heard a tom gobble but she had to get bred somewhere close by so toms must be there too.
I'm hoping she will come back to the nest and hatch the eggs. I wont go near that nest again for a while. What are the chances she will return? Should I put out some kind of scratch grain close by so she has plenty to eat or just leave her alone? h.h.
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Post by ski on May 18, 2011 8:19:29 GMT -5
That is great news! I would just let Mother Nature do her thing.
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Post by firelt72 on May 18, 2011 9:58:27 GMT -5
Just leaver her alone, she flushed but was back quicker than you can imagine.
After they hatch I wouldn't be against throwing out some grain, just not sure when that will be.
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Post by oldhoyt on May 18, 2011 11:57:04 GMT -5
One of the few things I learned in school that stuck with me, is that female turkeys can reproduce without breeding. All of the offspring of this process, called parthenogenesis, are male.
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Post by Woody Williams on May 18, 2011 13:31:13 GMT -5
She was back 45 minutes after you left.
I'd detour around that area for awhile..
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Post by kevinhunter on May 18, 2011 13:35:59 GMT -5
 to what Woody said-she's back!!!! Leave her be!  |
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Post by schall53 on May 18, 2011 13:54:41 GMT -5
Hen turkeys only have to be bred once a month to have the ability to lay fertile eggs. They can retain sperm in the body until it is needed. Even if you didn't see or hear any Toms, she found one somewhere.
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Post by hornharvester on Jun 2, 2011 20:38:17 GMT -5
I checked the nest today and am sad to report she didnt come back. Ive stayed away and not went close to the nest since I flushed her off. The nest had 8 eggs in it and they were cold as ice and you could tell she hadnt set it. Im hoping she went off and nested again. h.h.
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Post by Woody Williams on Jun 2, 2011 21:07:46 GMT -5
Could be that she didn't return because she wasn't able. IOW - something got her.
I don't think one accidental flushing would keep her away unless maybe it was her first brood.
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