Turkey nesting season is an impressive feat of nature. Female turkeys, also called hens, build their nests and lay eggs in the spring. The nests provide a safe place for the eggs to incubate and the poults (baby turkeys) to grow after hatching. But what exactly does a turkey’s nest look like? Let’s take an in-depth look.
When and Where Turkeys Build Nests
Wild turkeys nest on the ground typically at the base of trees or within clumps of vegetation. This provides overhead cover to help conceal the nest. Hens often choose sites with abundant leaf litter or plant matter to further camouflage the nest.
Nest building begins 4-8 weeks before the first eggs are laid. The timing depends on the region:
- Southern states: January to early March
- Northeastern states: March to mid-April
- Northern states: Mid-April to early May
Hens don’t reuse nests year after year They build a new nest at a different site for each breeding season,
Nest Construction
Turkey nests are simple in construction. To build the nest, the hen uses her feet to scratch out a shallow depression, about 1-1.5 inches deep. The dimensions average 9-13 inches across and 8-11 inches long.
The hen doesn’t carry nesting materials to the site. She constructs the nest using leaves, twigs, and vegetation already present. As she sits during incubation, she continues adding materials.
Nest Appearance
From above, turkey nests appear as slight dips in the ground, often concealed by surrounding grass and leaves. The interior matches the forest floor, lined with debris like dead leaves and twigs.
From the side, nests resemble shallow bowls around 1-15 inches deep The sides are molded from loose dirt scratched out by the hen. When undisturbed, nests seamlessly blend into the surroundings, helping camouflage incubating hens.
Egg Laying and Incubation
Once the nest is built, the hen lays one egg daily until her clutch is complete, usually 10-12 eggs. Older hens may lay 13 or more.
Incubation starts after the final egg is laid. The hen remains on the nest continuously during the 28-day incubation period, leaving only briefly once per day to feed.
Throughout incubation, the hen keeps adding nesting materials. This helps insulate the eggs and conceal their white shells for extra camouflage.
Raising Poults
Turkey chicks, or poults, hatch after 28 days of incubation. Shortly after hatching, they leave the nest but return for shelter at night.
Around 10-14 days after hatching, the poults are large enough to roost in trees with their mother at night. At this point, they abandon the nest for good.
Mortality rates for poults are quite high, around 75% in the first month. The nest is considered successful if at least 2 poults from the brood survive this vulnerable stage.
Unique Aspects of Turkey Nests
Compared to the elaborate nests of other bird species, turkey nests are remarkably simple. But they are strategically constructed for incubating eggs and raising poults. Here are some notable features:
- Built entirely with materials already at the site, no nesting materials carried in
- Shallow bowl shape with sides formed by displaced soil
- Average dimensions of 9-13 inches across and 8-11 inches long
- Typical depth of 1-1.5 inches
- Rely on camouflage rather than structure for concealment
- Lined with leaves, twigs, and debris to mimic surroundings
- Not reused, a new site selected each year
- Hen keeps adding materials for insulation and camouflage
While basic in design, turkey nests are thoughtfully crafted to maximize the chances of survival for eggs and newly hatched poults. Their inconspicuous appearance helps incubating hens stay safely on the nest while avoiding detection by predators.
So next time you come across a slight depression filled with leaves on the forest floor, take a closer look. You may have stumbled upon a turkey’s meticulously constructed nest!
Nesting on the ground is a risky business. Each day is full of danger and brings a new challenge for a nesting hen, which is what makes their feat so impressive.
Poults are extremely susceptible to weather and predators in the first four weeks after they hatch. If they make it past that point, the production is considered a success. It’s important for enough young turkeys to be produced that offset the annual loss, so populations remain sustainable.
Breed first, nest later
Copulation or breeding must first take place for hens to produce fertile eggs.
The timing of breeding is determined by the female turkey and researchers are now learning that physical conditioning may have a greater influence on reproduction. Reserachers believe a hen is not suited to take on the rigors of nesting unless physically in a condition to do so. Therefore, poor conditioning caused by poor nutrition can be blamed for late nesting.
It takes hens about two weeks to lay a full complement of nine to 13 eggs. Hens will only visit the nesting site long enough to deposit her egg for the day. The rest of her time will be spent elsewhere feeding and roosting.
At the end of the laying period, incubation starts. During this time, the hen puts herself in danger to stay on the nest day and night for about 28 days. She needs to bulk up prior to nesting and may take a brief recess period around mid-day to feed on protein-packed insects.
What does wild turkey nesting cover look like?
FAQ
Where do turkeys make their nests?
Wild Turkeys nest on the ground in dead leaves at the bases of trees, under brush piles or thick shrubbery, or occasionally in open hayfields.
How to spot a turkey nest?
In the wild, the nest will generally be hidden in an open field of tall grass, the edge of a wood line and occasionally at the base of a tree. Another consideration for nest location: The back yard bird hen will search out a nest location away from the flock just so the other hens do not harass her.
What kind of trees do turkeys nest in?
Don’t Forget the Pines
While evergreens aren’t usually associated as turkey-specific trees, both longleaf and shortleaf pine ecosystems are crucial for wild turkeys and the many species that inhabit them. Turkeys will roost in mature pine trees and can be seen feeding on insects under them during the day.
Do wild turkeys sit on their eggs at night?
In between laying eggs, the hen will focus on feeding and bulking up to withstand the upcoming incubation period. Once all the eggs have been laid, the hen will incubate them, day and night, for about 28 days. Incubation is interrupted only for an occasional mid-day snack of protein-rich insects.