1. Egg Incubation:
- Female turkeys lay eggs in nests and sit on them to provide warmth.
- Incubation typically lasts for around 28 days before the eggs hatch.
2. Hatching:
- Once the incubation period is complete, the eggs hatch, and the baby turkeys, called poults, emerge.
- Poults are extremely fragile and dependent on their parents for warmth, food, and protection.
3. Poulthood:
- The first few weeks of a poult's life are called the poulthood stage.
- During this phase, poults experience rapid growth and require a high-protein diet.
- They stay close to their parents for warmth, guidance, and protection.
4. Juvenile Stage:
- After the poulthood stage, turkeys enter the juvenile stage, which typically lasts several months.
- They continue to grow and develop their feathers.
- Juveniles become increasingly independent and start exploring their environment more freely.
5. Adulthood:
- Female turkeys, called hens, reach sexual maturity at around 6-9 months of age, while male turkeys, called toms, mature at around 8-10 months.
- Adult turkeys are fully grown and capable of reproducing.
- They establish dominance hierarchies and engage in mating rituals during the breeding season.
6. Breeding:
- During breeding season, toms compete to attract hens through elaborate displays, such as fanning their tail feathers and gobbling.
- Hens typically choose dominant toms with the most impressive displays.
- After mating, hens lay their eggs in nests and begin the incubation process.
7. Life Expectancy:
- The average life expectancy of domestic turkeys raised for meat production is typically around 12-14 months, as most are processed for meat before reaching full maturity.
- However, some heritage and wild turkey breeds may have longer lifespans, often exceeding several years.
It's important to note that the specific timeline and characteristics of each stage may vary slightly based on the turkey breed and environmental factors.