More Turkey Incubation Questions...

SheepFarm · **Joined:** Wed Jul 04, 2012 11:59 am **Posts:** 35

That happens all the time here especially with the chickens they play musical nests and eggs but in the end the real mother hatches the eggs. Try giving the other hen a couple of chooks eggs if you have them just to keep her happy

ash1 · **Joined:** Sun Jul 01, 2012 10:25 pm **Posts:** 94

Thanks Sheep.

I asked the intruder Mrs Turkey if she'd like some chookie eggs (had just collected them), but when I got back with them she'd settled herself down. They've done it again today, so tomorrow I'll leave a few chook eggs in the second nest to keep second Mrs Turkey broody. But won't she be terribly upset when "her" eggs don't hatch and her sister's do?

VeeB · **Joined:** Thu Sep 06, 2012 7:18 pm **Posts:** 1

My silky bantams do the same its funny I can go over twice a day to check on them and each time they have switched around but the good part is they both started to box sit at the same time so both will be good mums I think

SheepFarm · **Joined:** Wed Jul 04, 2012 11:59 am **Posts:** 35

Silkies are the worst for it probably because of their poor eye sight

SheepFarm · **Joined:** Wed Jul 04, 2012 11:59 am **Posts:** 35

second mrs turkey broody will adapt and my help out with the chicks from first mrs turkey broody

ash1 · **Joined:** Sun Jul 01, 2012 10:25 pm **Posts:** 94

Well I candled all Mrs Turkey's eggs today (day 16) and, so sad, it looks like not one single one is a winner

I have three good 'uns in my incubator, so am going to give her at least one of them to hatch out (presuming they make it that far), but need to know when the best time to swap the eggs would be?

Would I be best to just add in the extra egg and leave the duds with Mrs Turkey?
Take all the duds and give her just the good egg?

I thought it might be best to just give her one good egg, as a bit worried that if none of the eggs she is sitting on is viable, she may be doing something wrong (although she has been so very, very diligent) and then I would lose all three of the good eggs. This way, she can have one bubba to dote on, and then I would have two to keep each other company in the brooder. Or should I just give her all three, knowing that the odds of all three hatching out are not guaranteed.

Should I wait until day 24/25 to give her the good egg, or do it now?

This is the first time for both Mrs Turkey and I, so a complete novice and not sure how to proceed. After all her hard work I really want her to at least hatch out one baby.

SheepFarm · **Joined:** Wed Jul 04, 2012 11:59 am **Posts:** 35

What you do is take 1 dud egg away and replace it with the good egg, do that at 7-8 days before its due to hatch, then don't touch the hen again

ash1 · **Joined:** Sun Jul 01, 2012 10:25 pm **Posts:** 94

Thanks (again!) Sheep (you are so helpful!) than657

So do you think I should give her one, or all three? I am really torn over this - if I give her one and it doesn't hatch then I have achieved nothing and I will feel like a selfish sod for not giving her all three. But if I give her all three and none hatch, then we'll all be sad.

SheepFarm · **Joined:** Wed Jul 04, 2012 11:59 am **Posts:** 35

There is a wise old saying "never put all your eggs in the one basket" so give her 1 eggs and keep the other 2 in the incubator if the poult does not hatch the egg then thats nature and she will no that as it happen many time even with a full nest of eggs.

SheepFarm · **Joined:** Wed Jul 04, 2012 11:59 am **Posts:** 35

Ash how are you eggs going? any hatchings as yet?

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