Turkeys use a variety of sounds to communicate, including gobbles and calls like yelps, clucks and purrs. These call calls can be used to attract mates, signal danger, or keep in touch with the rest of the flock.
The hen's search for the best location to lay her eggs is a time-consuming process. She will often egg-yelp for hours and drop an egg in the yard as she searches for a spot that's just right!
She will spend 22 to 23 hours a day on the nest during incubation, leaving the nest only to eat, drink and defecate. She will then cover the nest when she leaves, blending it in with the leaf litter.
Hens will breed throughout the spring and early summer. During this time, hens will build ground nests in places that provide good cover and are close to good brood habitat (an opening or edge of woody vegetation).
The number and quality of the openings on a property can make a difference. A property with well-distributed openings provides resources within reasonable distance of escape cover and helps turkey populations thrive.
Grassy and weedy fields, as well as grass/forb openings, serve as good feeding sites for turkeys. They also help prevent mud from accumulating along trails and open areas, which can become dangerous for turkeys during the nesting season.
Food plots that contain a mixture of green-browse forbs, such as clover and winter wheat, are especially beneficial to turkeys. These plots benefit white-tailed deer and other wildlife as well.
