More poults

Andy S.

Andy S.

Well-Known Member
TNDeer Supporter
Joined
Jul 26, 1999
Messages
24,293
Reaction score
9,020
Location
Atoka, TN
I went riding early Sunday morning in SW TN looking for deer, turkeys and such and saw several hens with poults, but just as many without.

ykrM7Ms.jpg


LvFzZLg.jpg


z5h4wjb.jpg
 
Great to see.

Working on the farm this weekend I saw something that left me a little baffled. As I entered a field on the ATV saw 2 hens scooting along the edge. As I rolled to a stop I noticed another 6-8 birds running along that were much smaller and appeared to be juveniles but they were WAY bigger than what I'd expect for this time of year. They were a good bit bigger than the ones you snapped pics of. Wasn't sure what to think because they were so big...very early born maybe?
 
This hen had 5, another two hens had 4 that we could see (they flew when I stopped), and we saw three hens together that only had 1 poult with them, we could see them real well. I also saw a few lone hens without any.
 
I was not overly impressed with the hen:poult ratio I saw that morning, I can promise you that. It was probably 1:1 or very close, which is abysmal for sustaining/growing the flock.
 
Andy S.":1b1kdjpy said:
I was not overly impressed with the hen:poult ratio I saw that morning.
Click to expand...
Meanwhile, many turkey "experts" keep telling us that "nesting success" is the main factor effecting year-to-year turkey populations?
It seems to me, the nesting success factor has taken a back seat to the predation factor.
 
Wes Parrish":3lsn99rw said:
It seems to me, the nesting success factor has taken a back seat to the predation factor.
Click to expand...
I believe many predators prey on them at different stages, some while the eggs are in the nest and some after the little guys hatch out. Regardless of when they are getting wiped out, the fact is, many are being killed before they can hatch and many more before they can fly, leaving the population with a HUGE void in poults that reach maturity.
 
Andy S.":19l6346c said:
Regardless of when they are getting wiped out, the fact is, many are being killed before they can hatch and many more before they can fly . . . . .
Click to expand...
And many more after they can fly (albeit fly slowly and take off not quick enough).

They still remain very vulnerable to predation until they're at least 6 months old.
 
It is all about nesting/ brood rearing success.

Predators are a factor, but it is minuscule in my opinion and research. Weather has the greatest impacts on nesting and brooding.
All sportsmen can do is promote good turkey habitat with a little predator control.

Sent from my Lumia 900 using Tapatalk
 
Wes Parrish":1tl5sbbh said:
Andy S.":1tl5sbbh said:
Regardless of when they are getting wiped out, the fact is, many are being killed before they can hatch and many more before they can fly . . . . .
Click to expand...
And many more after they can fly (albeit fly slowly and take off not quick enough).

They still remain very vulnerable to predation until they're at least 6 months old.
Click to expand...



They take off as quick as a covey of quail when at 13-14 days old. Also, can run like quail.





Sent from my Lumia 900 using Tapatalk
 
woodsman87":2c5rc3oy said:
It is all about nesting/ brood rearing success.
Click to expand...
So we've been told. I agree to a point, but only to a point.

woodsman87":2c5rc3oy said:
Predators are a factor, but it is minuscule in my opinion and research.
Click to expand...
In times past, I would have totally agreed with this, but no longer.
In my observations, particularly involving good nesting success, predators have become a much larger factor than in times past. Not only have various predators increased in numbers, but they have more recently evolved to specifically hunt more for young turkeys.

woodsman87":2c5rc3oy said:
Weather has the greatest impacts on nesting and brooding.
Click to expand...
Generally agree. :)

woodsman87":2c5rc3oy said:
All sportsmen can do is promote good turkey habitat with a little predator control.
Click to expand...
How do you control a significant increase in birds of prey preying on young turkeys?
While we try to curtail the coyote population in particular, both coyotes and bobcats appear to be more specifically targeting turkeys.

BEFORE

AFTER
 
woodsman87":3afhxdxf said:
They take off as quick as a covey of quail when at 13-14 days old. Also, can run like quail.
Click to expand...
The can become airborne "almost" as quick quail, but they don't fly nearly as fast.
They may can run much like quail, but that's not fast enough to escape Wiley.
 
Cowman71":3gkcb8ao said:
These wild, East Tn mountain turkeys don't seem to be having any problem's at all reproducing. Seeing lots of momma's with large groups of 6 to 8 pounders here around the house, as well as up on the mountain.
Click to expand...
no problems here either, been tons of poults this year behind the house. But 8 pounds is a little heavy right now for a poult, some of the jakes will weigh that much in a month or 2
 
They cut hay behind the house a week ago, now today there were a few hens and tons of poults lounging around. Growing up nicely. Hope they are around in a while, I would like 1 of the fatter ones for thanksgiving
 
These wild Lawrence County turkeys don't seem to be reproducing, oh wait.... you have to have turkeys foe turkeys to reproduce
 
Rockhound":1gt1m36t said:
These wild Lawrence County turkeys don't seem to be reproducing, oh wait.... you have to have turkeys foe turkeys to reproduce
Click to expand...

Right on. Been the eight spring/summer I haven't seen a hen with poults within about a 20 mile radius of any where I hunt. See single hens, and groups of 4-5 hens though.

But, I haven't been out looking as I normally do. Maybe one I check my cameras I will have some on there. They have been up since Late May.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Tapatalk
 

Latest posts

Back
Top