Poults

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More wild turkeys today.  These are poults – the new-born cohort from nesting wild turkey hens this spring.  Mortality for poults is greatest in the first 14 days of life - especially of those roosting on the ground.  Survivability increases with the passage of time most notably after half a year when poults attain near adult size.  These are about as large as over-sized chickens.    Hen turkeys have been seen to chase off hawks in flight when their poults are threatened.