Turkey Mating Question

[DeerWhisperer]

I stopped by to check on one of my fields on the way to work this morning and found 3 Gobblers in Full Strut with a small group of hens.

2 of the Tom's were really concentrating on one particular hen. In fact, they were chasing this one hen all over the field while practically ignoring the other hens.

so, the question I have is do Turkeys enter a "Rut" Stage somewhat similar to Whitetails? I was just curious because it looked so similar to a trail of bucks following a hot doe.

 

[woodsman87]

Turkeys "rut" pretty much from late February to mid June, in my observations at least.

But I do not know if gobblers can actually "sense" a hen is ready. They will breed many times throughout the spring, even though it only takes once.

I have never seen this behavior you speak of. But, everytime I have seen a gobbler breed a hen, the hen spun in circles, and then sat down in front of the gobbler.

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[megalomaniac]

What you probably observed was the 2 gobblers focusing on one of the only adult hens in the group, with the rest of the females being jennies and incapable of reproduction. Although the hens and jennies look similar to us, the gobblers can tell which is which and don't even bother with the jennies usually.

But the female is completely in charge of when mating occurs. Totally different than in other forms of poultry (chickens, ducks, etc). He may try to bump her to encourage her to sit for him, but he won't mount her until she chooses to let him.

I've seen 75 breedings or so in the wild while hunting the past 25 years, but I had NO IDEA just how vocal the hens were when the gobbler was actually mating them until I got my own backyard flock. Most matings last for 5-30 seconds (much longer than other poultry), and the entire time my hens have been lightly chattering with a strange mix of purrs, clucks, and a few putts thrown in while the gobbler was on top. The gobblers seem to be quietly focusing on the task at hand.

I started getting eggs this week from 2 of my 3 hens (late for south MS, but early for the individual birds since they are only 10 months old), but hens have been sitting for the gobblers for a week prior.

And they taste just like chicken eggs

 

[Boll Weevil]

Good info mega...thanks for chiming in.

 

[PalsPal]

I've seen 75 breedings or so in the wild while hunting the past 25 years, but I had NO IDEA just how vocal the hens were when the gobbler was actually mating them until I got my own backyard flock.

I think this is where the "squealing hen" call concept was born.

[youtube]hwhOPfmN-R4[/youtube]

 

[Setterman]

Haha, gotta love the squealing hen. An instant classic brought to you by the worst call company in the industry. The runner up would be MAD with all of their gimmicks including the silent dog whistle locator.

 

[REN]

Hahaha holy crap I forgot about the dog whistle


Joshua 24:15
"But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord."


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[catman529]

Haha, gotta love the squealing hen. An instant classic brought to you by the worst call company in the industry. The runner up would be MAD with all of their gimmicks including the silent dog whistle locator.

you really think HS is the worst call company?


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[PalsPal]

I hate to admit that I bought the dog whistle ! But, I was younger and naive !

I think they sold a ton of them, but I don't ever remember seeing where ANYONE got a response to it.

BTW, I didn't mean to make it sound like I was promoting the squealing hen, just where they got the idea !

 

[AllOutdoors]

I've seen 75 breedings or so in the wild while hunting the past 25 years, but I had NO IDEA just how vocal the hens were when the gobbler was actually mating them until I got my own backyard flock.

I think this is where the "squealing hen" call concept was born.

[youtube]hwhOPfmN-R4[/youtube]

Lol! That combined with a fan mounted to your shotgun barrel should get it done.

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[Setterman]

Haha, gotta love the squealing hen. An instant classic brought to you by the worst call company in the industry. The runner up would be MAD with all of their gimmicks including the silent dog whistle locator.

you really think HS is the worst call company?


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And it's not really close, their calls are complete junk and they put out more gimmicky bs then the rest. MAD calls are right behind them.

I was also a proud dog whistle owner, and was convinced a bird was gobbling at it the first morning I used it, until my partner for the day said stop blowing it, bird continued to gobble non stop. Tried it a few more times and it never worked, threw it in a creek at some point. I was young and persuadable

 

[catman529]

Haha, gotta love the squealing hen. An instant classic brought to you by the worst call company in the industry. The runner up would be MAD with all of their gimmicks including the silent dog whistle locator.

you really think HS is the worst call company?


Sent from the talk of tap

And it's not really close, their calls are complete junk and they put out more gimmicky bs then the rest. MAD calls are right behind them.

I was also a proud dog whistle owner, and was convinced a bird was gobbling at it the first morning I used it, until my partner for the day said stop blowing it, bird continued to gobble non stop. Tried it a few more times and it never worked, threw it in a creek at some point. I was young and persuadable

I've used HS mouth and slate calls and they are nothing special but they aren't junk either. Just affordable turkey calls. I personally think Flextone has the most gimmicky junk that sounds like crap


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[hcdeerman]

Now Catman..... Flextone CAN'T be junk if the Bone Collector uses them!!

 

[catman529]

Now Catman..... Flextone CAN'T be junk if the Bone Collector uses them!!

lol im not against sponsorships or TV hunters endorsing products, but I don't care at all for Waddell or Flextone. But there are people who buy it so I can't blame them for selling it.


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