Home Forums Birds & Dogs Turkey Hunting Another Bad Hatch?

Been seeing a lot of hens without chicks lately. Saw two flocks, one with about 8 hens, and another with a dozen or more, and no sign of little ones. I've heard one report of a hen with chicks being seen. I did run over a nest when I was cutting hay, but she should have time to nest again.

What's it like where y'all are?

Rarely will they nest again this late

I destroyed that nest a little over a month ago. I've seen them nesting on up into July. As you said, it's rare, but it does happen. My concern is that whereas I used to see hens and poults frequently here during the summer, it's very unusual to see them now.

Here in my area of northern California a late large amount of rain all but wiped out our hatch, I have not seen a single hen with chicks, Its a shame as they were just starting to make a comeback after a couple of bad years with a good hatch last year.

I haven't been out and about to see anything for myself. I've heard tale of some broods. But as f'n wet as it has been ALL season up until now...………… I can't see how things can be too good.

I am seeing hens as well but no chicks. Hope I am just seeing the chicks but have seen several hens

Just saw one turkey hen with a single poult cross the road this evening coming home from church. Skinny hen. Poult was maybe cardinal/starling size. Poult barely able to fly up on a branch about 4ft off ground. After I got tired of waiting for it to follow the hen, I started to pull up. It about flew thru the open passenger window into the car.

Surprised at the small size of the turkey poult. Canada Geese chicks on the pond at work are already half the size of the adults, or more.

Saw three hens together the other day, What seemed like two of them had chicks trying to keep up.

I have not seen any yet but am hearing pretty good news from others here in VA. Last couple of years have been a bust but there are a lot of big hens so maybe that will turn around.

Turkeys have a really high morbidity rate. The gobblers spend pretty much every night of their adult lives on the roost. The hens spend 5 to 6 weeks on the ground some years it must be a pretty stressful time for them.

Good luck and shoot straight y'all

here in north central Minnesota hens are coming to my feeder alone, i assume chicks will be coming out soon too ? have plenty gobblers around my place yet.

Walked out on the porch and it took awhile to reconcile the sound I was hearing around the side. Took a look and she had around 10 chicks, but by the time I got the camera they were moving into the trees.

Thought they may reappear, but had to take the pic out the window....

That is good to see !!!

My mother has a huge yard in the middle of the woods. It's a turkey magnet. She's having all kinds of hens in the yard........but has not seen one poult, yet.

There were about 25 total.

Nice.!!!!!!

Things have been looking up around here...... Couple weeks ago I went for.a quad ride and saw 3 clutches totalling 22 poults. Another guy I know is watching 3 hens with 33 or 35 poults between them.......and another big group.

👍👍

So far, I've yet to see a hen and poults. Have seen a number of hens. I hope the poults were there and I just didn't seen them. But, I'm doubting that.

I'm in western MD and SW PA. Only seeing a handful of poults and a number of hens with none. Third year with tropical spring rains. Plus, I hear west nile could be a culprit. PA is doing some research on that now.

Today saw two hens with perhaps 5 poults tagging along.

Saw 3 hens mid last week below the house here. Looked to be somewhere between 6 and 10 young uns with them. I'm overall very pleased with what I'm seeing considering the crappy, wet spring we had. 👍

Loads of them up here this year.