Turkeys about breeding time

[CrealCritter]

We have lil weep weep weep'ers

I was able to grab 4 of them but seen several more and two that we're still wet from the hatch.

5 of them, cute but they are quick lil buggers.

Here's some more still wet from the hatch and a few under one of my two hens.

Now I get to play Momma hen. They took to their new digs pretty well. Must have heat!

I'll catch more as I can and add to the brooder. I don't want to create a big ruckus though and cause any injuries to the babies.

 

[CrealCritter]

Up to 7 lil weep'ers that I was able to grab so far.

Life is such a cool thing!

 

[frustratedearthmother]

They are cute!!

 

[sumi]

 

[CrealCritter]

They are cute!!

They are cute and later they are delicious too

 

[CrealCritter]

3 more makes 10. What I can see, still two drying out from the hatch but one hen is still holding tight on her clutch.

 

[CrealCritter]

They sure are cute when they are little but man do turkeys grow up to be ugly!

Notice they still have their egg tooth. Hoping for more to hatch over the next few days. They have already found their food and water too. So far momma hen (me) seems to be doing ok.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

They ARE cute. Did ya not think the mama's could raise 'em or are ya just making sure?

 

[CrealCritter]

They ARE cute. Did ya not think the mama's could raise 'em or are ya just making sure?

Last years hatch the Tom stepped on several babies and they would die a day or two later. I seen the Tom do it, I separated the Tom from the hens and chicks right then and there. Then the hens killed the rest of the babies by pecking the back of their necks. It was really odd because the chicks were several weeks old before the hens killed them. They are not very good mom's. So just to be sure this time, I have the chicks in my little nursery yard, in a brooder all by themselves. I don't plan on rejoining the adults and chicks ever, I will keep them separate.

I currently have 11 babies in the brooder, I'm expecting a few more. I would like to maintain 1 Tom and 4 hens and eat the rest. Maybe sell some babies next year IDK... I've had a number of people ask me if I wanted to sell my Tom. So maybe the babies would sell or maybe i'll sell mature hens and Tom's for Thanksgiving or Christmas.

All I know is I'm a turkey-a-holic, I like turkey meat just as much as lamb & beef.

Brooder at night, I was watching them jump up and catch bugs, moths mainly that are attracted to the heat lamp. Amazing how acrobatic they are for being a day old.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Last years hatch the Tom stepped on several babies and they would die a day or two later. I seen the Tom do it, I separated the Tom from the hens and chicks right then and there. Then the hens killed the rest of the babies by pecking the back of their necks. It was really odd because the chicks were several weeks old before the hens killed them. They are not very good mom's. So just to be sure this time, I have the chicks in my little nursery yard, in a brooder all by themselves. I don't plan on rejoining the adults and chicks ever, I will keep them separate.

Sounds like you're doing the right thing. Hope those babies do really well for you.