Wild turkeys mate from April to May, depending on the region. Hens lay 10 to 12 eggs, which hatch in about 28 days. The young, called poults, are able to fly in three or four weeks, but they stay with their mother up to four months. Studies have shown that 10 to 40 percent of nests successfully hatch, but only about 25 percent of hatching poults will make it beyond four weeks. Read
Tag Archives: Wild Turkey Biology
Do tom turkeys help raise the young?
Let’s face it, tom turkeys are irresponsible when it comes to helping out at home. In fact, it is solely the responsibility of the hen to raise the young. Read
How long has the wild turkey been around?
Turkey fossils have been unearthed across the southern United States and Mexico, some of them dating from more than 5 million years ago. Read
How Do Turkeys Stay Warm?
Have you ever wondered how wild turkeys — and other bird species — survive the harsh winter weather of the North. Birds of all shapes and sizes have special adaptations for living in cold climates. Here are just a few examples of tough birds and their tips for staying warm. Read
Where Do Those Large Winter Flocks of Gobblers Go Come Spring?
Turkeys congregated in large, same-sex flocks during the winter begin to disperse when spring arrives. Some gobblers go it alone while others remain in small — often related — bachelor groups. Read