Fresh out the shell

[Andy S.]

I was riding early this morning looking for deer while the temps were 60ish and managed to stumble upon an adult hen and this little guy, the only poult around. The grass he is in is someone's side yard so it gets mowed with a lawn mower. I was disappointed in the adult hen. I expected her to flare up, circle me, raise cane or do something, but she hightailed it out of there when I approached to take the pic.

This was in Fayette county. I saw a ton of deer, a few good bucks, my first fawn, a lot of turkeys, but no more poults that I could tell.

 

[Boll Weevil]

That's a little bitty guy...exactly right about fresh outta the shell and can't be more than a week old maybe? Nice pic and thane for sharing.

 

[TheLBLman]

I'd bet there were a bunch of them a few days ago.
Almost amazing any survive past their first week with all the birds of prey and coyotes gobbling them up.

 

[Gravey]

Hate its only one. Hopefully it was the first to hatch and maybe the others haven't yet.

 

[Andy S.]

I'd bet there were a bunch of them a few days ago.

I was wondering/dreading the same thing. If that be the case, which is very likely, it is no wonder why so many hunters are hearing and seeing fewer birds with each passing spring.

 

[Andy S.]

Hate its only one.

Me too.

Hopefully it was the first to hatch and maybe the others haven't yet.

I was wondering/hoping this may be the case, but the Clemson website below debunks that theory. Read the section titled "The Brood-Rearing Season".
http://www.clemson.edu/extension/natura ... urkey.html

 

[Gravey]

That sucks then if something got all but one.

 

[Andy S.]

I agree, that would suck big time, but it probably happens more often than we want to believe.

 

[pass-thru]

He didn't follow her? Did he make it back to her?

 

[AllOutdoors]

I agree, that would suck big time, but it probably happens more often than we want to believe.

Unfortunately but this.

 

[Andy S.]

He didn't follow her? Did he make it back to her?

I eased toward them and he just hunkered down. She ran off acting "kind of crazy" for a second, but then she tore out and ran into the woods. I took the pictures and quickly got out of the area. I do not know if they reunited, but I would think they "should have". I did not touch the poult or anything. I basically snapped two pics and exited the area ASAP.