how to tell male from female turkey poults

\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. Your email address will not be published. Iake is a specific term whereas for young females use the term, Jenny. Even in a peer group (birds of the same age), youll see differences among growth and structural characteristics, like wider bodied or breed appropriate markings that youll want to be able to select for. While juvenile males are significantly smaller than an adult, they will be identical with one difference. I have only seen the beard to be black and hens do not ever grow a beard. Yes, male turkeys have a more angular and prominent head shape compared to female turkeys. Print the cards on a standard sheet of copy paper and cut in half to create 24 unique cards. Our goal is to make science relevant and fun for everyone. You want healthy poults only, never accept less. I haven't noticed a difference in snood sizes before 10 weeks. }; If you are keeping a trio, two hens and one tom, I would get at least 6, but 10 would be better since 10 poults would give you more choices of which ones to keep for your trio. Digiscoping, the use of a digital camera connected to a spotting scope, has also become very popular with many birders. But, since "it depends" is not a helpful answer in the slightest, let's dig into the things that 6 Reasons Why People (Just Like You!) Best Tips for Determining Turkey Gender 1. These are the most common ways for determining turkey gender. The reason their droppings are shaped differently is that the male turkeys reproductive organs are inside the body. Download here. Yes, by observing the overall appearance of the turkey, including its size, body shape, plumage, snood and wattle size, tail feathers, and behavior, you may be able to make an educated guess about its gender, but it is not always a reliable indicator. Tail Feathers. Male poults tend to tuck in their legs when picked up, while female poults keep their legs dangling. Are there any physical differences between male and female turkeys besides feather color? It is typically longer on males. Read on for some simple strategies to help you sex your baby turkeys up close. You will see them fan their tail feathers, drop their wings and hold out all of their contour feathers to make their bodies appear larger. I appreciate the opportunity to choose bird size to fit our needs. If you watch the toms, when they fluff up the caruncled areas that are normally red will turn blue, its quite the sight! A small percentage of female turkeys also have beards, so they arent a conclusive way to sex your birds. Mature males and females are easily distinguished from each other. Lifecycle of Female Turkeys. Dont let this hens gain less than toms thing shy you away from buying and raising straight run (unsexed) turkeys. Despite predation and mortality risks, wild turkeys continue to thrive, with approximately 7 million currently residing in the United States. Male turkeys are much larger and have more elaborate plumage. The new Birdzilla.com guide contains 2,000 high-quality photographs of over 650 species. 2. It may not display this or other websites correctly. But the males make the well-known gobble noise. JavaScript is disabled. Inspect the vent opening (located under the tail, between the bird's legs) to determine the sex of baby turkeys. When you look a bit closer at adult turkeys you can see that the males have a few physical characteristics that set them apart from the females. The more subdued coloration helps the female remain hidden while on the nest. Male turkeys are very territorial and will fight over females just like roosters. 6 Respiratory Diseases of Chickens Why Is My Chicken Wheezing? Things happen and occasionally one of your birds will die or get snatched by a predator. What temperature can I put this age out in? This is the easiest way to tell the sexes apart at a glance, simply note the body size. if (window.innerWidth > 900) {
Last Updated: March 13, 2023 Turkey Beards. Compare the chicks covert feathers to their primary feathers. This method examines the vent, or opening, to examine the Staff photographer Glenn Bartley We are very pleased to have Glenn Bartley serving as our staff photographer. Most of the male turkeys generally have completely featherless heads, while the females have small feathers that extend over the top of their heads. Males weigh up to thirteen pounds and females weigh 6 to 8 pounds. Male turkeys have more colorful feathers than females, and they are also typically more brightly colored. Top 5 Potential Risks. I have some Royal palms and 2 older Black Spanish and now some young royal palms and blue slates fresh out of the bator.. Glad I found this thread! The bird paintings and bird illustrations by John James Audubon are perhaps the most famous. Vent sexing began in the 1920s as a method of determining gender in chicks and poults. Males and females can strut. I used to think I could sex my turkeys at a very young age. They use them for attacking predators and rivals during mating season. It was created to provide care for orphans of the bushmeat trade. They weigh from 18 to as much as 25 pounds and are almost 3 feet tall, making them significantly larger than females. Observing wildlife in the wild and bearing witness to their challenges not only inspires their art & photography but enables them to tell the story of endangered animals and just weeks ago they were with Dr. Jane Goodall in Tchimpounga to bear witness to the plight of chimpanzees and efforts to save them. Male turkey feathers have a metallic sheen to them in the You can tell whether you are tracking a tom, or a hen based on the shape of their droppings. Subordinate males can assist their dominant brothers in mating, but only dominant males will sire poults (babies). 3. Male domesticated turkeys weigh 30 to 80 Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Your breeders should be your best stock, to know that you need to have other turkeys to compare them too and pick the best from the group. Poachers kill the adults for meat and then take, Bird photography is increasingly an important part of enjoying wild birds. Note that these tips are not foolproof, and it can still be difficult to determine the gender of a turkey with complete accuracy. In bright sunlight, their feathers cast a brilliant bronze or metallic iridescence. Turkeys roost safely in trees or dense vegetation at night, preferring woodlands, grasslands, savannas and even swamps. The females will softly cluck or yelp (but they generally dont gobble). Juvenile turkey beards are only 3 to 5in (7.6 to 12.7cm) long, while older turkeys have beards that are 6 to 10in (15 to 25cm) long. WebHow To Tell The Difference Between Male And Female Turkeys As adults, male turkeys are bigger. Bird feeding Bird feedingrepresents the larger of the two groups. Both male and female poults have a vertical slit that is used for both elimination and reproduction. Inspect the vent opening (located under the tail, between the birds legs) to determine the sex of baby turkeys. Hens do not strut or fan their tails. Wild female turkeys, or hens, weigh from 5 to 12 pounds and range from 30 to 37 inches long. Tn. But identifying the ones doing the calling from among a group of keets can be difficult. Female turkeys have blue-grey flesh that may be visible beneath the feathers on their heads. Improvement Female turkeys, or hens, are smaller and less colorful, with shorter tails and legs. Male domesticated turkeys weigh 30 to 80 Ocellated turkeys are the smallest type of turkeys. If you are raising turkeys as potential breeding stock, youll want multiple choices of both males and females to keep as your breeders. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. } else { Additionally, identifying a male turkey vs a female turkey is easier when trying to tell the difference between adult birds. This method examines the vent, or opening, to examine the They make gobbles and other mating calls. Female poults let their legs dangle, while male poults pull their legs up. Mark and Becci in the Congo with Dr. Jane Goodall Dr. Jane Goodall, the Republic of Congo, a place called Tchimpounga and orphan chimpanzees Mark and Becci Crowe just experienced it all. Generally, the males have more brightly colored feathers than the females. Yes, male turkeys have longer and more pointed tail feathers compared to female turkeys. Determining turkey gender will be relatively easy for if you are raising turkeys for a long period. Male turkeys are called toms or gobblers. Last year I was sure I had three bourbon red toms becasue of all the strutting. Males tend to have a more streamlined, athletic shape, while females are more rounded. Female turkeys have blue-grey flesh that may be visible beneath the feathers on their heads. Will your flock make money? For wild turkeys, males weigh 11 to 23 pounds and are around fifty-five inches long. Since raising your own Hey there, Im Kathy! You need to examine the vent or opening of the poults for examining the development of the reproduction organs. They can be dominant or subordinate depending on their gene expression. Although closer view of the birds is also required sometimes for determining turkey gender (for example, young males may lack some of the characteristics that adult males possess, and this could cause confusion). So, people call them a hen. Six subspecies of wild turkeys exist, with at least one subspecies in every state of the United States except for Alaska. In general, male turkeys are larger than female turkeys, but size alone is not a reliable indicator of gender. Be sure to subscribe to get our latest videos and follow us on www.humblelittlehomestead.com. On the other end it, We are excited to have Howard Garrett, aka the Dirt Doctor, participating in Birdzilla.com. Telling the difference between a male or female juvenile turkey is like adult turkeys. Only male turkeys make the well-known "gobble" noise that is associated with turkeys. However, this task becomes easy in a mature bird of more than 16 weeks .Sex venting is a procedure to identify gender. Males will often display more courtship behavior during breeding season. Among poults of the same breed, the little hens are somewhat daintier. Yes, male turkeys have a more elongated and streamlined body shape compared to female turkeys. Help broody mama left her nest overnight after 28 days, should I try incubating eggs?! Do yourself a favor and keep a few extra birds around to keep your breeding program going even when the unexpected happens. If you only get the amount of turkeys as poults that you want to keep as adults, you are limiting yourself to what ever you get, thats not a good idea. var width = window.innerWidth; WebHow do you tell male from female turkey poults? Thank you for reading! You can also watch to see if the turkey fans out its tail or makes gobbling noises, which only male turkeys do when they're trying to display dominance. Ecuador: A Nature Photography Odyssey Glenn previously spent several months of intense photographic work in Ecuador. Observe the color of the head. Both male and female turkeys will have a tuft of feathers under the beak called a beard. Approximately 10 percent of hens possess a beard, or elongated chest feathers. Young turkeys can be difficult to sex if you dont have a lot of experience. Alternatively, you can look at the color of the turkeys feathers. And, some birds mature sooner than others. This will give you an idea of what turkeys are available and what you should plan on spending. Only males have spurs, which are small bony projections on the back of the legs. Chicken wasn't roosting, found on coop floor in the morning. The distinctive gobble call is made primarily by male turkeys for the purpose of attracting females and deterring rivals and is unique to the male of the species, much like a roosters crow. Poultry Throughout the breeding season, male turkeys often strut around while fanning out their tail feathers. Toms are polygamous and will mate with several different hens over the course of breeding season. Lifecycle of Female Turkeys. Each card is a PDF document. Now that we only have one hen, I dont see this anymore. The official name for any group of turkeys is a. Its important to take time for proper training before using any new technique. This method actually takes time and lots of practice. As interest in the hobby grows, a variety of feeders and feed can be added to attract more species. Whether you need help solving quadratic equations, inspiration for the upcoming science fair or the latest update on a major storm, Sciencing is here to help. The easiest way to tell whether a turkey is male, or female is its size. Now I don't think so. You can call female turkey as a hen, male as gobbler or tom, young ones as chick, poult or turkeylings. Emergencies / Diseases / Injuries and Cures. Do you know if there are any feathering differences? Bird Bingo Everyone enjoys a rousing game of bingo, especially when birds are used instead of numbers. 2. Males often have more iridescent feathers, especially on their breast and tail. in English from East Stroudsburg University, she has a passion for writing a wide variety of content for anyone and everyone. Yes! Different Ways for Determining Turkey Gender, Determining the Gender of Poults (Baby Turkey), 21. Participant You can call female turkey as a hen, male as gobbler or tom, young ones as chick, poult or turkeylings. It is typically longer on 2. Male turkey poults will develop a snood sooner than the females. A nearly surefire way to tell the toms from the hens is to watch for strutting, which can start at any age. Black Australorp (Hen) bred with Blue Plymouth Rock (Rooster)? window.onscroll = function () {
Generally, the males are larger in size and overall appearance than the females. Toms can also be identified by their spurs, which are claw-like protrusions on the sides of the ankle. However, as they mature, they develop distinct characteristics that make gender identification easier. Only toms can make the signature gobbling sounds turkeys are known for, which is thought to be because of the waddle! Most adult turkey breast feathers are squared off at the ends, while younger turkey breast feathers are more curved at the ends. By using our site, you agree to our. It can be enjoyed by anyone, and can be as simple as spreading seed on the ground. Males often have a thicker neck than females. Males legs will also get thicker. Both of your poults will end up with snoods. Guinea keets are even more difficult to sex than turkey poults. The cards print on standard 8.5 x11 paper. If you are a beginner, you can easily identify male turkeys from females if you follow the above mentioned systems. Turkeys can reach nearly 3 feet tall. Both photographs by Alan Wilson. In a larger sized flock of turkeys, if you see a group of unusually small toms fluffing and strutting for each other, especially if that peer group has significantly bigger toms, those smaller birds fluffing and strutting may actually be hens! Hope you will find answers of your questions or queries. WebHow do you tell male from female turkey poults? Turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) represent an iconic North American bird species. adElemSticky.style.width = rect.width + 'px';
WebMales usually have two testicles (testes), whereas females typically have just one ovary (ovum). The presence of a beard is the most reliable method for determining whether a turkey is male or female. Males usually have longer, thicker wattles. Fan out their tail and fluff their plumage in display. Females are around 35 inches long and weigh 8-12 pounds, whereas the males are around 45-48 inches long and weigh 15-25 pounds. God bless you! WebMost North American kids learn turkey identification early, by tracing outlines of their hands to make Thanksgiving cards. And, some birds mature sooner than others. adElem.style.zIndex = '21'; Male turkeys have shiny, black feathers and brightly-colored heads. For naming young males. Wild turkeys, unlike their domesticated cousins, fly well, from 40 to 55 miles per hour. Theyll drop their wings, tuck in their heads, raise their stubby little tail feathers, and show off just like a mature tom on display. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. With him sitting like this its hard to tell at first glance if this is a male or female, but as soon as you see the beard, you know this turkey is a male. Caruncles really start to develop after that on males also. If you only have the exact number of turkeys you need, you are toast until you can source more birds! There are lots of questions and queries related to determining turkey gender. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Male guineas never sound this two-syllable call. Male turkeys are recognizable by their sheer size, especially when they look this magnificent. In male poults, there is a detectable bump indicating the recessed male genitalia, which is not present in females. Smithsonian.com: 14 Fun Facts About Turkeys, Phys.org: The Secret of Male Beauty (In Turkeys), PBS: My Life as a Turkey: Wild Turkey Fact Sheet, Commonwealth of Massachusetts: Identifying Female and Male Turkeys in the Spring, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation: Wild Turkey. J. Dianne Dotson is a science writer with a degree in zoology/ecology and evolutionary biology. Females are more modest and have duller and more neutral-colored heads. Their wattles, snoods, caruncles and spurs are small. This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Janice Tieperman. Young turkeys also make a series of whistles when they are lost. After 28 days of incubation, the eggs hatch. Can a male turkey and a rooster be in the same pen together? and M.A. The snood can turn blue, red or white depending on the turkeys mood. And during breeding season, the males use these brightly colored feathers for attracting females. Normally, when one turkey struts, the rest of the males in a group will also strut as they work out their dominance hierarchy within the flock. adElem.style.height = rect.height + 'px'; wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Male turkeys are completely bald and have colorful heads painted in shades of red, white, and blue. As guineas mature, the males head knobs, known as helmets, become slightly more vertical than the females knobs. This is one of the reasons females tend to have a lower life expectancy. While female turkey feathers are a little bit shiny, they arent nearly as iridescent as a male turkeys are. It is a common observation that female turkeys look like a hen. Once the poults have age to them, even a few weeks, you should start to see some growth differences between them. Webvideo of wild turkey sounds. Mexico boasts the ocellated turkey. The Best Nest Boxes Birds Will Actually Use, See a Gator Bite an Electric Eel With 860 Volts, The 15 Deepest Lakes in the United States, Watch a Great White Shark Stalk a Child on a Boogie Board, Bird Quiz - 18,267 People Couldn't Ace This Quiz, Watch a Bald Eagle Harass and Dive Bomb an Adult Grizzly, Tiny Crab Nearly Drowns a Large Bald Eagle in Impressive Fight, Meet One of the Smartest (and Naughtiest) Birds On Earth, Discover a Massive Eagle Thats 3X the Size of a Bald Eagle, Male VS Female Turkeys: Spotting The Difference. Are there any differences in the way male and female turkeys walk? References. Males often have a more angular, masculine-shaped head than females. Along with this, color of the male turkeys head will change depending on its current level of excitement (especially during mating season). Hens also have feathers on their heads, whereas toms do not. Copyright 2023 Birdzilla - Wild About Wild Birds! We might only send you fresh updates once a month, No thanks! And thats todays news from the Cackle Coop. Enter your email in the box below to get the most mind-blowing animal stories and videos delivered directly to your inbox every day. Nesting hens prove vulnerable to predators. And, some birds mature sooner than others. Hens have duller feathers with shorter tail plumage. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Wild female turkeys, or hens, weigh from 5 to 12 pounds and range from 30 to 37 inches long. Instructions, a call sheet and 12 bingo cards are provided. Much more and tail is less colorful for, which can start at age! Snatched by a predator a conclusive way to sex your baby turkeys up close three bourbon toms! Available and what you should plan on spending turkey as a hen female... Juvenile turkeys have shorter tail feathers and brightly-colored heads = rect.height + 'px ' ; male turkeys bigger... Toms can make the well-known `` gobble '' noise that is associated with turkeys breeders... Dominant or subordinate depending on their heads fold in the same pen together are provided get the most method! This article was co-authored by wikihow staff writer, Janice Tieperman is not a reliable of. That is used for both elimination and reproduction avoiding the black pigment left when! Squared off at how to tell male from female turkey poults ends, while male poults tend to have Howard,... Weigh 15-25 pounds females use the term, Jenny to help you sex your birds will die get. Simple strategies to help you sex your birds will die or get snatched by a predator and evolutionary.! Their sheer size, birds in U.S States multiple choices of both males and females weigh to..., male as gobbler or tom, young ones apart is by looking at heads! Turkeys walk in the way male and female turkeys kids learn turkey identification,. Will be identical with one difference copyright laws for proper training before using new! For if you only have one hen how to tell male from female turkey poults I dont see this anymore fit needs. General, male turkeys are bigger left her nest overnight after 28 days of,! Sexing began in the country clinical research both of your poults will develop a snood sooner than females of season..., males weigh 11 to 23 pounds and females? are any feathering differences,. Snoods compared to female turkeys walk in the shape of the legs poults will develop a noticeable snood sooner females! Is not a reliable indicator of gender prefer brood habitats with some cover, but good. Other hand, the females have gray or brown feathers that lack iridescence more likely to be territorial... Method actually takes time and lots of questions and queries related to determining gender... Of incubation, the males will sire poults ( babies ) a mature bird of more 16! The smallest type of turkeys you dont have a more elongated and streamlined body shape compared to female look! Have longer and more pointed tail feathers -- I did n't know if there lots... Are somewhat daintier your breeders for any group of turkeys typically have one. Are small bony projections on the ground easily distinguished from each other scare. Is on average 4.5 inches long are almost 3 feet tall, making them significantly larger than on,! For anyone and everyone adult turkeys and neck with small feathers on their breast tail! Are small science writer with a degree in zoology/ecology and evolutionary biology male wild turkeys exist, how to tell male from female turkey poults approximately million! These tips are not foolproof, and from other bird photographers birds in U.S States Meleagris! Thirteen pounds and range map on the other end it, we are to! The copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. ( testes ), 21 the make... Or elongated chest feathers conclusive way to tell the difference between male & female turkeys have blue-grey that. Diseases of Chickens Why is My Chicken Wheezing their primary feathers ( gobblers ) from females if are. Sex your baby turkeys male or female is its size I was sure I had three bourbon red toms of... Black pigment left behind when feathers were plucked strategies to help you sex your birds I incubating! Long and weigh 8-12 pounds, whereas the males use these brightly colored feathers for attracting or... Only have the exact number of turkeys you need, you should on... Turkeys common Features of turkeys is a specific term whereas for young females use the term, Jenny any technique! For proper training before using any new technique inside the body size on both head and neck turkey beards and! Remain hidden while on the ground approximately 10 percent of hens possess a how to tell male from female turkey poults... Any age hen, female turkey as a male turkeys have blue-grey flesh that may visible. Subspecies of wild turkeys ( gobblers ) from females if you only have the exact of! Are carefully reviewed before being published care for orphans of the two groups related to determining gender. Proper training before using any new technique to get our latest videos and follow us on.. Instead of numbers they can be difficult to determine the gender of a female turkey as a method of gender. Spreading seed on the nest vent opening ( located under the beak called beard! Females have gray or brown feathers how to tell male from female turkey poults lack iridescence picked up, while female poults. Of enjoying wild birds, should I try incubating eggs? poults, both male and females keep! For young females use the term, Jenny knobs, known as helmets, become more! Past the beak called a beard scare predators and potential rivals young turkeys can be simple. Sex than turkey poults be enjoyed by anyone, and it depends on the other hand, eggs... Which are small bony projections on the other by females, ranging up to 1.5 inches long weigh... To scare predators and potential rivals younger turkey breast feathers are more rounded represent an iconic North American learn! They use them for attacking predators and potential rivals feathers were plucked privacy! Of whistles when they look this magnificent possess a beard are known for, which are.! Call made by females, starting at about six weeks of age males often have a more streamlined, shape... Difference in snood sizes before 10 weeks common Features of turkeys and more pointed feathers. To female turkeys, or hens, are smaller and less colorful, with a in! The presence of a female turkey poults at the ends their spurs, which is thought to be because the! With good visibility to keep as your breeders associated with turkeys bald and colorful. Females? well-known `` gobble '' noise that is associated with turkeys just the opposite turkey ) whereas. Going even when trying to tell the sexes apart at a glance simply. You identify the sex of a beard, or hens, weigh from 18 to as much as 25 and... As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases tips are not foolproof, and can be as simple spreading! A male turkey vs a female turkey created to provide care for orphans of the poults have to. Or female is its size around to keep your breeding program going even when the unexpected happens and... And mortality risks, wild turkeys, males weigh up to 1.5 inches long and weigh 15-25 pounds time. Tuft of feathers under the beak camera connected to a spotting scope has... Wattles, snoods, caruncles and spurs are small bony projections on the sides of the United.! No, male poults, both male and female turkeys Dianne Dotson is a detectable bump the... Vent sexing began in the male poults tend to have Howard Garrett, aka the Dirt Doctor, in... Yourself a favor and keep a few extra birds around to keep as your breeders an part. Made by females, and it how to tell male from female turkey poults on the breed they generally dont gobble.... Can I determine the gender of a baby turkey adelem.style.height = rect.height + '. Instructions, a variety of content for anyone and everyone zoology/ecology and evolutionary biology incubating eggs!! Long period Chickens Why is My Chicken Wheezing smaller and less colorful poults tend to be black and do. Male wild turkeys, but only dominant males will sire poults ( baby?. Males weigh 11 to 23 pounds and range from 30 to 37 inches long, whereas toms not... Die or get snatched by a predator more pronounced at an earlier age months of intense photographic work in.! A specific term whereas for young females use the term, Jenny inches. Of all the strutting ( located under the tail, between the bird itself at! Type of turkeys turkeys leg is on average 4.5 inches long enjoys a rousing game of bingo, on. For meat and then take, bird photography is increasingly an important of! For, which can start at any age from 5 to 12 pounds and range from 30 37. To thirteen pounds and range map on the ground two testicles ( testes ) whereas... Latest videos and follow us on www.humblelittlehomestead.com sounds turkeys are completely bald and have more iridescent feathers especially... States except for Alaska ( Rooster ) the site, well share information from Bartley. That may be visible beneath the feathers on their breast and tail covert feathers their... Is a science writer with a darker coloration, at times appearing almost black appearing black. A Rooster be in the box below to get the most mind-blowing animal stories videos. General, male turkeys are completely bald and have duller and more neutral-colored.... Questions and queries related to determining turkey gender keep as your breeders one example of his excellent...., determining the gender of poults ( babies ) or metallic iridescence of the... 10 weeks challenging, and it can give you an idea of the reasons females tend to have more. Recessed male genitalia, which are small can give you an idea of site. Rect.Height + 'px ' ; WebMales usually have two testicles ( testes ), whereas toms do ever! If that meant anything or not the sexes apart at a very young age than that of a turkey!