Female Wild Turkey

Ann
- July 22, 2003

Hi Dan, The past two months we have been watching a female wild turkey visit our yard. She likes to come round by the bird feeders to take part in a bit of snacking. At the end of our driveway is a small pond of water she frequents to quench her thirst in turn catching the eye of the nearest passerby in cars. Well this morning my husband went to the mailbox and at the end of the driveway found a broken egg shell. He asked our 9 year old and myself to check out the egg and identify it. We seem to be the bird experts in the house. We brought it back to the house and after carefully looking at it, think it's a turkey egg. Our son thought at first it to be a pheasant egg. We felt it was too large for that. I went on the web and tried to find out. One site had pictures of a clutch of turkey eggs but it was not a good picture. I would like to know for sure if this is a turkey egg. Here is my description: Larger than a chicken egg. Or if you like; extra-large chix'n eggs. It's about that size. Color is off white with brown speckles (like freckles) all over the entire egg. I asked my husband if he has ever seen turkey's around the farm growing up. "NO". We live on his parent's farm in Cottage Grove and I'm a former city girl but in the 17 years I have been out here this is the first time we've seen a turkey in the yard. They're in the fields around here but she seems to call our yard home. It sure makes for interesting conversation. My sister who lives next-door did not believe us whenever we call her up to say did you see the turkey in the yard! She thought we were making up stories. So next time I saw the turkey I got my camera out and got a picture to prove to her we do not have a phantom turkey. Before I could get the picture developed the turkey showed up in her backyard and she called me in excitement. She believes in this turkey now. My next question is if we found the egg shell, and we've been watching her for a couple months, the eggs should be hatching or hatched if a predator has not gotten them? I read incubation is 27 days for the babies. We think she is nesting on the hill behind the house. When she flies away she heads back in that direction every time. I would like to find her nest but without disturbing it. How could we go about this and do you think it is alright to investigate? Turkishly yours, Ann