Question for megalomaniac

[Boll Weevil]

Can jennies reproduce? Can hens born last sprin breed and produce little turkeys?

I see an awful lot of what appear to be smaller hens in groups of 3-5 and maybe a jake or 2 running together; like they are siblings maybe? Do these 1st year hens get involved in reproduction?

 

[Andy S.]

Based on my readings and research about the eastern species over the years, it appears jennies typically nest at a lower rate than adult hens, often nest later than adult hens and are less successful.

 

[Boll Weevil]

Thanks Andy.

My hen numbers have absolutely gone through the roof (which is fantastic) but also see an interesting dynamic in terms of actual nesting behavior. The big "boss-looking" hens are clearly nesting and setting now; they are loners and pretty much hang close to the thick stuff. But there's a bunch of little skinny maybe 8-9-10 lb hens that run together in packs all day. They pay zero attention to gobblers but just feed, preen, loaf, and piddle around all day. I can't tell if they're tending a nest or not.

 

[megalomaniac]

You are definetly observing the jennies as a grouped up subflock, most likely hatch mates or at least they spent the prior fall together. What is really interesting is how the gobblers won't even mess with them and will leave a group of 10 or more in a heartbeat to search for an adult hen that may be receptive. And likewise, the jennies don't really care about the gobblers socially as long as they have their flock mates around. They will definetly go straight to a gobbler calling if they are separated from their flockmates, however. (not to breed, but just for the social company until they can find their flockmates).

Jennies 'can' successfully nest, but whether they will produce a clutch is primarily determined by their body condition coming into the spring. Early hatched or extremely well fed jennies will lay (usually a month later than adult hens), although their success actually hatching their brood is significantly lower than adult hens. They just don't hide their nests as well and are more susceptible to predation, and for some reason, they will often simply abandon their nests mid incubation. To rely on jennies alone to sustain a population is foolhardy. I simply view the few poults they do successfully raise as 'bonus' poults.

In another 2-3 weeks or so, some of those jennies you are watching will become interested in the gobblers and allow them to mate them (if there are any gobblers left after 6 weeks of hunting pressure)

 

[megalomaniac]

Oh forgot to mention... whether jennies successfully mate/ brood is very locale specific. In some areas, up to 80% of jennies may initiate a late nest (but again, with lower hatch success). In other areas, virtually no jennies will mate/ nest.

Kinda like doe fawns. All this talk about the magical '2nd rut' in December when the doe fawns come into heat, yet I have NEVER killed a 1.5 y/o doe that was wet. If doe fawns are ovulating, they are either not conceiving, or if they do conceive, they are aborting. They certainly aren't carrying a fawn of their own the following year on my farm. Yet in the Midwest, studies have shown that nearly 80% of doe fawns are wet the following year.

 

[Boll Weevil]

Thanks mega. Great information and gives me a better idea for managing outcomes and expectations going forward.

 

[Southern Sportsman]

Can jennies reproduce? Can hens born last sprin breed and produce little turkeys?

I see an awful lot of what appear to be smaller hens in groups of 3-5 and maybe a jake or 2 running together; like they are siblings maybe? Do these 1st year hens get involved in reproduction?

I've been wondering this exact same thing for a couple weeks. I've read that a small percentage of jakes will be sexually mature, but was also curious about Jennies.