Wild turkeys lay their eggs on the ground, typically choosing concealed spots that provide protection from predators. Common nest locations include:
- At the base of large, mature trees or stumps such as oak or beech in fairly open, isolated woods
- In low vegetation or idle fields of weeds or grass that offer some concealment
- Near the edge of woodlands, within about 100 feet of openings like woods roads, clearings, or fields
- In shallow depressions scratched into leaves or pine needles, often under overhead cover or thickets
The nest is usually a simple, shallow scrape in the ground. Hens lay one egg per day for about two weeks, accumulating a clutch of roughly 9 to 13 eggs before incubating them for around 28 days
. The hen visits the nest only briefly each day to lay eggs, spending most of her time feeding and roosting elsewhere
. Because the nests are on the ground, they are vulnerable to many predators, making concealment critical for the survival of the eggs and poults
. In summary, turkeys lay their eggs in ground nests located in concealed, sheltered spots such as at the base of trees, in tall grass, or near forest edges with good cover
