As the “turkey year” officially begins in the spring for hunters, let’s track turkey activity from spring through fall.
The peak of the breeding season has already passed by the time the spring turkey hunting season opens on April 15. Toms will breed with multiple hens throughout the spring and early summer. After the eggs hatch, the hen will build a ground nest close to a great brood habitat, usually a gap in the forest canopy, and in a location with enough cover.
When a hen reaches 24 to 32 hours of age, she will start laying; it will take her two weeks to lay a complete clutch of nine to thirteen eggs. To survive the upcoming incubation period between laying eggs, the hen will focus on eating and gaining weight.
The hen will incubate the eggs day and night for about 28 days after they are all laid. Incubation is interrupted only for an occasional mid-day snack of protein-rich insects.
After hatching, poults, or newly hatched chicks, can walk and usually leave the nest within 12 to 24 hours. After eight to 14 days, young poults can fly short distances and start roosting in trees.
If a hen loses a clutch soon after laying, she doesn’t have to mate again because the sperm from that initial mating can live for up to 30 days. Hunters may believe that a newly hatched brood of turkeys is the hen’s second or third clutch when it shows up in late August or early September. In fact, it’s more likely the hen has lost a brood and simply re-nested.
The biggest threat to a young turkey’s survival is within its first 10 days of life. If their down gets wet from rain, hypothermia is likely. Additionally, bobcats, coyotes, skunks, raccoons, ravens, crows, hawks, and even stray cats can prey on them.
For those who hunt turkeys spring marks the start of a new season. But what about the turkeys themselves? Let’s follow their journey throughout the year, beginning with the vibrant spring.
Spring: Nesting and New Life
By the time spring turkey hunting season kicks off on April 15th, the peak breeding season has already passed. Toms, the male turkeys, have been busy wooing hens, and the fertilized eggs are now developing.
Hens painstakingly construct ground nests, looking for discreet locations close to the best habitat for raising offspring, which is frequently forest openings. Every 24-32 hours, they lay one egg, and it takes them about two weeks to lay a clutch of nine to thirteen eggs. The hens concentrate on feeding and strengthening themselves in preparation for the impending incubation period in between laying.
After the clutch is finished, the hen devotes her time to incubation, spending about 28 days sitting on the eggs every day. She only takes brief breaks for midday snacks of protein-rich insects.
Summer: Vulnerable Beginnings
Newly hatched chicks, called poults, are remarkably mobile, leaving the nest within 12-24 hours. Within 8-14 days, they can fly short distances and begin roosting in trees.
Sadly, the first 10 days of a poult’s life are the most perilous. Wet down from rain can lead to hypothermia, and predators like ravens, hawks skunks, and even house cats pose a constant threat.
Fall and Winter: Flocks and Migration
As summer progresses, hens and their growing poults join forces with other families, forming larger groups. Meanwhile, mature toms form bachelor flocks, often segregated by age. By winter, these flocks can number over 200 birds.
Turkeys in low-lying areas don’t migrate, as winter conditions are milder. But people who live in higher altitudes, where severe weather can be lethal, migrate seasonally from lower to higher altitudes.
The biggest threat to adult turkeys is prolonged winter storms, where crusted ice prevents them from accessing food. However, these resilient birds can survive for several days in trees, losing body fat but ultimately enduring.
Under ideal conditions, toms can live up to five years (though two or three is more likely), while hens can reach six to eight years. An eight-year-old hen is a rarity, comparable to a human centenarian.
Spring Returns: The Cycle Continues
As winter fades, so do the large turkey flocks. Hens return to breeding grounds, while bachelor flocks of toms disperse. Mature toms reclaim their strutting grounds, while young males (jakes) seek to establish their own breeding territories.
Most older toms are homebodies, staying within a one-mile radius to find hens. Hens, however, are more adventurous, traveling farther to find mates or secluded nesting sites. The older the tom, the closer he stays to home during breeding season, which may explain why hens seek out toms rather than the other way around.
Hens may travel miles from their breeding site to find a safe nesting spot, but often return to raise their poults. Some even return to the same nesting and breeding sites year after year, demonstrating remarkable site fidelity.
Technically, jakes can breed at one year old, but they face stiff competition from mature toms. This drives them to travel farther in search of mating opportunities.
The willingness of hens and jakes to travel has contributed significantly to the explosion of turkey populations in Oregon. Biologists leverage this behavior by transplanting birds between established flocks, allowing traveling individuals to fill in the gaps.
A Story of Resilience and Adaptation
The wild turkey’s life cycle serves as an example of adaptability and resiliency. From tiny eggs to stately adults, these birds face and overcome many obstacles in their journey. Knowing their journey enables us to recognize their significance to the ecosystem and the value of ethical hunting methods.
Winter flocks and migration
As summer progresses, hens and their growing poults will join other hens and poults. At the same time, mature toms form bachelor flocks, often of like ages. By winter, turkey flocks may grow to 200 or more birds.
Because the winters in low elevation habitats—such as valley floors—are usually mild, turkeys there don’t need to migrate when winter weather arrives. However, as the weather varies in the spring and fall, turkeys will migrate between lower and higher elevations, especially at higher elevations where severe weather can endanger birds. This is especially true in parts of central and eastern Oregon.
Adult turkey mortality is primarily caused by extended winter storms because the crusted ice keeps the birds from locating food. Nonetheless, turkeys are hardy creatures that can live for several days in a tree, losing a considerable amount of body fat while still managing to survive.
Under ideal conditions, toms can live up to five years (though they typically live two or three), and hens can live six to eight years. An eight-year-old hen is rare, however, and comparable to a 100-year-old person.
They’re HATCHING!! Our Turkey’s FIRST EGGS are starting to hatch!
FAQ
How long does a turkey sit on her eggs before they hatch?
Can turkey eggs take longer than 28 days to hatch?
Are turkey eggs hard to hatch?
How long do baby turkeys stay with their mother?
How long do turkey eggs take to hatch?
Turkey eggs take 28 days to hatch. Hence, the incubation period for turkey eggs is 28 days. The eggs, however, should be kept at 99.5 o F or 37.5 o C and 55-60% relative humidity (RH). Only fertile eggs can develop and hatch.
What is the incubation period for turkey eggs?
Hence, the incubation period for turkey eggs is 28 days. The eggs, however, should be kept at 99.5 o F or 37.5 o C and 55-60% relative humidity (RH). Only fertile eggs can develop and hatch. To avoid wasting your time, energy and money, it is very important to check the fertility status of the turkey eggs that you want to incubate.
How long does it take for eggs to hatch?
You’ll find that some clutches of eggs will hatch at about the same time and others will hatch days apart. Your eggs will need to be consistently incubated at 37.5°C (99.5°F) up until 4 days before hatching. During the final 4 days of incubation, the humidity is increased.
How long do turkeys incubate?
A cool, dry place like a basement works well. Once you have a nice clutch collected, the eggs can go into the incubator at the same time. This works best because you can treat all the eggs with the same processes as incubation progresses, and all your poults will hatch on roughly the same day. Turkeys incubate for 28 days at 100.5 degrees F.