Contributed and Written By; American Wild Turkey Hunting Dog Association
Here is another hen with her brood this morning. A beautiful hatch, despite that it has rained 15 out of the last 17 days here. Either it’s an old wives tale that getting wet will kill poults when less than 3 days old, or Wisconsin turkeys have evolved to tolerate it.
I count 13 poults. Only saw the one hen, but I suspect her cohort(s) was/were nearby. Two or more related hens will often lay eggs in the same nest, take turns setting, serving as sentinel and raising the brood, with adjacent barren hens and male turkeys announcing danger in the neighborhood.
I count 13 poults. Only saw the one hen, but I suspect her cohort(s) was/were nearby. Two or more related hens will often lay eggs in the same nest, take turns setting, serving as sentinel and raising the brood, with adjacent barren hens and male turkeys announcing danger in the neighborhood.
Notice this hen has a slight beard – never shoot bearded hens.
How old do you think these poults are on June 29, 02017?
At 44.27° N Latitude in Wisconsin.
Update June 30, 2017 – Next day video
Going the other direction today. Four poults flew 3′ off the ground, by tonight they’ll roost in the trees.
More video July 1, 2017
Waited a long time for them to cross the road, to get a good count on the 13 poults (believe there’s 7 in the first group). Haven’t seen another hen yet in the last 3 days, so they must be all hers. It’s rained 16 out of the last 18 days here too. Join the AWTHDA, members receive access to exclusive content.
How does she protect 13 little ones by herself?!
Charlie says
Thanks for the video Jon. It looks like you’ve got a honey hole for turkey dogging this fall. What I’m wondering; Where is your turkey dog while all this is going on?
After watching the videos yesterday and today, I do not think that tuft on the front of the hens are beards. This time of year it is common for setting hens to have a ruffled breast feather or two that give the appearance of a thick jake beard.
JF says
This time the dog was home, waiting to run when I get back. Other times, she’s in a dog box in the back seat.
I only got a glimpse of what looked to be a beard, I just want to emphasize bearded hens are as fertile as those without beards.
In the fall, if I have a choice, I let brood hens walk and take a young of the year instead. Experienced hens are more likely to have another litter next spring, than a yearling hen that doesn’t know what to do.
I guess the poults are about a week old, give or take a few days. Anyone agree?
FirstBubba says
Yes, I’d say about a week or so. Little hard to see them in
the grass.
FirstBubba says
Awesome video Jon!
I’d love to have an album full of still photos of hens and poults.
As for the bearded hens?
I’ve only taken 1 hen during the fall and she had a beard.
Hen wingbones make the VERY best yelpers! Therefore, bearded hens are on the top of my fall turkey list! LOL!
N.C.L.W. says
Thanks again, Jon and Charlie, for another nice Turkey video.
Cheers!
huntfishtrap says
Cute little buggers. I’d guess them about 10 days old.
Charlie says
Guess about two weeks plus a day or three, took some stills out of the video and they appear to have fully developed wings. With those wings, they likely fly up for the night.
AWTHDA says
Update – waited a long time for them to cross the road, to get a good count on the 13 poults (believe there’s 7 in the first group). Haven’t seen another hen yet in the last 3 days, so they must be all hers. How does she protect 13 little ones by herself?! It’s rained 16 out of the last 18 days here too.
JF says
This morning, the field has been mowed and it’s full of crows, I’m fearing the hay bine got them! Found them an hour later, 3/8 mile away. Got a short video, not quick enough to count them crossing the road, but I think it’s them:
Jon says
Notice how smart birds are, that they know enough to get off the road when a car is coming? As if they tell the young ones: “Be careful crossing the road, your great, great, great Aunt Matilda was killed by a car and don’t you forget it!”
If you’re wondering if this is the same hen with 13 poults we’ve been watching for the last 10 days and did they survive the crossing, click on the Subscribe button to be the first to know.
More turkeys and free puppies sometimes at http://www.turkeydog.org/