wtnhunt Posted June 1, 2009 Report Share Posted June 1, 2009 While out on the tractor bushhogging our side pasture over the weekend I found 10 eggs, pretty amazing that they were all there unharmed in any way, my trail wheel must have just skipped over them in the little dip. The hen was not far off when I went back with the kids yesterday afternoon, she saw us as she came over the hill and she took off, hope she will not abandon the eggs. Kind of surprised she layed the eggs there, our cows and horses are all over that field, but she did have them hid well up in a small clump of junk with blackberry vines on one side. Now that the eggs are exposed the most obvious concern is predators, especially raccoons. Pretty sure the hen flew up to roost about 100 yards away up the hill at the edge of the woods while I was out in the garden right before dark last night. We have not touched the eggs, but kind of thought about piling a little brush around them to maybe make them less visible to any predators. Anyone have any suggestions on what we might do to increase the odds of these making it to hatch. The grass around the eggs is not very tall now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike13candace Posted June 1, 2009 Report Share Posted June 1, 2009 Wow... amazing.. I imagine she will be back.. not much protection around her.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhino Posted June 1, 2009 Report Share Posted June 1, 2009 Not sure what you can do now that won't cause the hen to abandon the nest William. That hen sure is trying to nest late for our part of the country. This might be her third attempt. I saw plots a couple of weeks ago while doing some more post season deer hunting chores that were anywhere from quail size to 6" tall. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fly Posted June 1, 2009 Report Share Posted June 1, 2009 Hi William, I read an interesting article from the DNR in Alaska. According to the aricle the best thing to do is to try to avoid disturbing the hen and nest which could cause her to abondon. However, if the nest is in the middle of an open field where predators could easily spot the nesting hen then I'd try to do something that would help conceal/protect the hen while on nest (especially at night). Maybe some thick leafy branches from a tree or two? Better to take a chance loosing the nest to abondoment than loosing the hen and nest some night to a coyote. http://www.wc.adfg.state.ak.us/index.cfm?adfg=wildlife_news.view_article&articles_id=426 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted June 1, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 1, 2009 Not sure what you can do now that won't cause the hen to abandon the nest William. That hen sure is trying to nest late for our part of the country. This might be her third attempt. I saw plots a couple of weeks ago while doing some more post season deer hunting chores that were anywhere from quail size to 6" tall. Don't know Al. We have not seen any poults here yet. We usually do start seeing them around this time of the year though. Hi William, I read an interesting article from the DNR in Alaska. According to the aricle the best thing to do is to try to avoid disturbing the hen and nest which could cause her to abondon. However, if the nest is in the middle of an open field where predators could easily spot the nesting hen then I'd try to do something that would help conceal/protect the hen while on nest (especially at night). Maybe some thick leafy branches from a tree or two? Better to take a chance loosing the nest to abondoment than loosing the hen and nest some night to a coyote. http://www.wc.adfg.state.ak.us/index.cfm?adfg=wildlife_news.view_article&articles_id=426 Thanks Frank. Think we will put some limbs on one side, maybe the downhill side where they would be more visible from the opposing hill. I have the cows and horses off that side, think I will keep them out for now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WHISKEYSWAMP Posted June 1, 2009 Report Share Posted June 1, 2009 I nearly mowed over a hen a couple years ago... she flew out just as the tractor reached her nest. it was basically the last swipe of the field I was mowing. I was amazed she never flew out until I was basically on top of her. Anyhow, I left the remaining weeds around the nest but by the next day the eggs had been eaten. If I had known she was there, I would have waited to mow the field. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted June 1, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 1, 2009 As of this morning the eggs are still there and in the same condition they were in yesterday with the exception of one that looked to have a crack starting. Maybe the are close to hatching. My oldest daughter said the hen was out in our front field with our cows earlier while she was in the shed feeding her chickens. Where she was at is only a couple hundred yards from the eggs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhino Posted June 1, 2009 Report Share Posted June 1, 2009 As of this morning the eggs are still there and in the same condition they were in yesterday with the exception of one that looked to have a crack starting. Maybe they are close to hatching. Sounds like you're fixin to have polts. Fingers Xed for ya. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fly Posted June 1, 2009 Report Share Posted June 1, 2009 Hope they make it! I read somewhere that the odds are not to good for a turkey to hatch and then grow to adulthood. I believe 1 egg out of 3 nests (30-40 eggs) will actually hatch and survive to the age of 2. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redkneck Posted June 2, 2009 Report Share Posted June 2, 2009 Hope they make it. They have a tough time around here between the coons, skunks, and fire ants. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HuntnMa Posted June 2, 2009 Report Share Posted June 2, 2009 hope they make it........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom2008 Posted June 2, 2009 Report Share Posted June 2, 2009 Great find William and I also hope the mother comes back to them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leo Posted June 3, 2009 Report Share Posted June 3, 2009 Just stay away from it as much as possible. Late nests are often completely sterile. Beginning of June is pretty late. So they might not have had a chance anyway. So don't feel too bad about it if they don't hatch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted June 3, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 3, 2009 Something got them. Checked yesterday afternoon late and the eggs were all gone, no sign they were ever even there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaseasl Posted June 8, 2009 Report Share Posted June 8, 2009 cool Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted June 12, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 12, 2009 almost hit another Just stay away from it as much as possible. Late nests are often completely sterile. Beginning of June is pretty late. So they might not have had a chance anyway. So don't feel too bad about it if they don't hatch. Sure does seem late Leo, but we have not seen any poults here yet. Was going slow and watching close for possible fawns. Don't know if it might have been the same hen or a different one, but mowed a couple plots and our back field yesterday afternoon and had a hen run out in front of the tractor then she turned and headed through the tall uncut grass and up the hill. Got about 3 feet from her nest. I left a 50 yard by probably 20 feet uncut strip where the nest was. The eggs were fine. Had planned on trying to so some calling for yotes back there Saturday morning, will be sure to take a camera with me if I do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhino Posted June 12, 2009 Report Share Posted June 12, 2009 This new nest sure seems very late William. I doubt it's the same hen. Finding 2 nest this late in the year sure makes me think you have a big problem with critters that predate turkey nest. A long time ago I was talking to a state biologist about predation of turkey nest. He told me they had monitored 12 nest that season. 9 of the 12 were predated and most of those were from coons. There's plenty of critters out there that predate turkey nest but coons seem to be #1 on the list here. Not sure if the coon population is a problem there but that's something to think about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted June 12, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 12, 2009 Not sure if the coon population is a problem there but that's something to think about. The coon population could be a problem here Alan. I let some people coon hunt on us a few years back, but they did not have much luck, kind of strange to me since I see them just about every time I go deer hunting. Will have to thin a few more of em out here this fall, no doubt I will have opportunities. I still have yet to see any poults here this year. This time of the year last year was seeing 3 different hens coming around with little ones on a regular basis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhino Posted June 12, 2009 Report Share Posted June 12, 2009 I still have yet to see any poults here this year. This time of the year last year was seeing 3 different hens coming around with little ones on a regular basis. That's not good. I haven't been in the woods for a couple of weeks now but the last time I was I saw 2 different groups of hens & polts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hunter109 Posted June 13, 2009 Report Share Posted June 13, 2009 My opinion, I wouldve got them and put them in an incabater, that wouldve been the best chance of them ever surviving Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hunter109 Posted June 13, 2009 Report Share Posted June 13, 2009 but thats what i woudve done, lol, nothing against hope though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted June 13, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 13, 2009 My opinion, I wouldve got them and put them in an incabater, that wouldve been the best chance of them ever surviving Without any type of consent from our wildlife folks that would be a big no no :nono: here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
12-point Posted June 26, 2009 Report Share Posted June 26, 2009 glad momma didnt get you ha they can be a problem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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