Turkeys, large and distinctive birds, are familiar sights across North America, inhabiting forests, woodlands, and open areas. Their presence is often associated with traditional celebrations, but understanding their reproductive cycle reveals a complex journey from egg to adulthood.
The Turkey’s Clutch: How Many Eggs?
A turkey’s reproductive process begins with egg-laying. Wild turkey hens typically lay a clutch of 8 to 15 eggs, with averages often falling between 10 and 12 eggs per nest. They lay approximately one egg per day, and it takes about two weeks for a hen to complete her full clutch.
These eggs are deposited in a shallow depression on the ground in a secluded spot, usually surrounded by dense vegetation. Once the last egg is laid, the hen begins incubation. Domestic turkeys, through selective breeding, can have different laying patterns, often producing more eggs throughout a season, sometimes up to 100 per year.
From Egg to Poults: Hatching and Early Life
She begins incubating the eggs, a process that lasts approximately 28 days. The hen sits on the nest, providing the necessary warmth for the embryos to develop. When eggs hatch, the young turkeys, called poults, emerge.
These newly hatched poults are precocial, meaning they hatch with their eyes open, are covered in soft down, and are capable of moving around almost immediately. Within 12 to 24 hours of hatching, poults are ready to leave the nest and begin following their mother. The hen guides her young, teaching them to forage for food, although she will continue to brood them, especially at night, for the first couple of weeks to keep them warm and protected.
The Journey to Adulthood: Survival of Young Turkeys
While many poults hatch, survival to adulthood is challenging. The survival rate for young poults is low, with some research indicating that only about 25% of hatched poults survive their first 30 days. Predation is a significant factor contributing to poult mortality, with numerous animals targeting both eggs and young birds. Common predators include raccoons, skunks, opossums, foxes, coyotes, snakes, and various birds of prey like hawks and owls.
Environmental conditions also play a role in the survival of young turkeys. Harsh weather, such as prolonged periods of cold or heavy rain, can be particularly detrimental to poults, which are vulnerable to exposure. The availability of suitable habitat, with ample cover and food sources, directly influences their chances of survival. Areas with dense undergrowth provide concealment from predators and support the insect populations that serve as a primary food source for growing poults. Hens that are older and more experienced tend to have higher poult survival rates, likely due to their ability to select better nesting sites and guide their broods more effectively.