Turkeys exhibit unique reproductive behaviors central to their life cycle. Understanding these mating habits provides insight into their biology and propagation.
The Turkey Mating Season
The turkey breeding season is primarily influenced by increasing daylight hours in spring. This triggers hormonal changes in both male and female turkeys, initiating their reproductive drive. While specific timings can vary by subspecies and geographic location, the general breeding period spans from late February or early March through early summer.
For example, Eastern wild turkeys in southern states typically begin breeding in March, while those in northern states may not start until April. Rio Grande turkeys commence mating activities in March, with peak nesting occurring near the end of April. Unusually warm or cold weather can either accelerate or slow down this breeding activity.
Frequency of Mating and Courtship Behavior
Turkeys exhibit a polygynous mating system, meaning a single male, known as a tom or gobbler, will mate with multiple females, called hens. Males engage in elaborate courtship displays to attract hens, which include vocalizations like gobbling, along with physical displays such as strutting, fanning their tail feathers, and dragging their wings. These displays serve to impress potential mates and establish dominance among males.
A tom can copulate multiple times a day during the breeding season if hens are receptive. Hens will often crouch to signal their readiness to mate, prompting the male to copulate. While a single mating can fertilize an entire clutch of eggs, hens may mate with one or more toms throughout the breeding period. Research indicates that approximately 60% of clutches are fertilized by a single tom, but up to 40% may contain genetic contributions from two or more males.
Reproduction After Mating
Following successful mating, the hen begins the process of laying eggs. The sperm from a single mating can remain viable within the hen’s reproductive tract for up to 30 days, allowing for the fertilization of an entire clutch of eggs over an extended period. Hens typically lay one egg every 24 to 32 hours, taking about two weeks to lay a full clutch. A wild turkey clutch usually consists of 9 to 13 eggs.
Once all eggs in a clutch have been laid, the hen begins continuous incubation, which lasts for approximately 28 days. During this time, the hen will remain on the nest, leaving only for short periods to feed. This synchronized incubation ensures that all poults, or turkey chicks, hatch around the same time. Newly hatched poults can walk shortly after hatching and typically leave the nest within 12 to 24 hours to follow their mother.