Today while putting the sheep back in the pasture, I made a discovery. I noticed a chicken racing across the pasture with what looked like a broken egg in its beak. Curious, I followed it and sure enough.. the hen was carrying a broken turkey egg! Tracing the path back reveled a whole nest of eggs in the corner of the sheep shelter! The eggs were mostly buried in the deep straw, but a little digging reveled quite a few eggs resting. A little further inspection revealed yet another next in the other corner of the shelter.
So far there are 4 locations where the turkey hens are laying. One likes the alfalfa bails in the barn, two others like the corner of the shed where the mower is kept, apparently a bunch prefer the sheep shelter, and a couple actually use the turkey shelter. Unfortunately none are choosing to lay in the nesting box of the turkey shelter. My theory at the moment is that the turkeys instinctively prefer a corner, a sheltered corner, to lay in. that makes sense from their point of view. Since the turkey shelter has no sides, they really don't like it, even with thick bedding. All I need to do is attach some sides about 2 feet tall and they will be happy to deposit their eggs there.
So for now we have about 24 eggs waiting for an incubator, and 15 already incubating. We are ordering a new incubator (watch for a post on the one we chose this time) and by the time it arrives we will have more eggs than will fit. maybe its time to order 2 ?
Follow along our adventure as we make the transition from corporate city life to the world of natural farming. Each day brings a new experience and brings us to a deeper understanding about the life and spirit that made America great. At our farm we do our best to give the animals we raise a natural, free, happy, stressfree lifestyle. Our mission is to learn and share how to manage a farming operation that is both profitable and humane.
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