Boll Weevil
Well-Known Member
How do wild and domestic turkeys differ in breeding and laying? Is it temperature, length of daylight, both, neither? Anyone know?
Sure it's lenght of day, and nothing more. That doesn't mean all turkeys across the US breed with the same length of day... but a given population will average nest initiation the same time every year (which suits the poults best chance for survival) based solely on length of day.I'm sure that length of day is the main factor, BUT there is a noticeable delay by a week or so with birds on the plateau. It has always been that way, so there are other factors as well, unless somehow elevated areas get less daylight. I don't think so.
I assume that it has the same determining factor as greenup in the spring. You can be on the interstate at Cookeville and see the leaves starting to pop, and then ascend Monterey mountain. When you get to the top, nothing more than buds, maybe. So, it may be temperature or something else.
BUT, it isn't solely length of daylight as many have preached for years.