how to tell male from female turkey poults

\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. Available on Amazon.com or at Barnes&Noble. Female turkeys have blue-grey flesh that may be visible beneath the feathers on their heads. Admittedly, it is kind of gross, but if you are tracking or hunting a wild turkey this is important to know! While the males have spurs or small spike-shaped bumps that should be visible from a moderate distance. Male turkey feathers have a metallic sheen to them in the Males and females can strut. Best 23 Feeding Tips, Can Dogs Eat Skippy Peanut Butter? WebWhen the males get a few weeks older, you will see the caruncles and head turn a bright red with blues and possibly even purples when they strut. Males legs will also get thicker. Support wikiHow by Male and female turkeys are sold straight run, meaning the males and females are all together in the as hatched ratio. Females make a clucking sound. The female broods them at night for several weeks. But you can also learn about the ways of determining turkey gender through regular practice. var width = window.innerWidth; Can I determine the gender of a turkey by its weight? However, behavior alone is not a reliable indicator of gender. They weigh from 18 to as much as 25 pounds and are almost 3 feet tall, making them significantly larger than females. I figure this is a pecking order type display, but I dont have any conformation on that. WebLets begin with the basics of distinguishing male wild turkeys (gobblers) from females (hens). The snood is a fleshy protuberance on the top of the turkeys beak. Turkeys are not monogamous. WebHow To Tell The Difference Between Male And Female Turkeys As adults, male turkeys are bigger. Generally the male poults have round bumps, while the females have concave or flat centers. Males legs will also get thicker. A huge bird on the table is an impressive sight! In some breeds, males have a redder head while females have a bluish-gray head. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. What temperature can I put this age out in? The snood starting to grow is more definitive to me. As poults, both male and females are very similar. Top 7 Potential Risks, Why Pet Insurance is Worth the Investment, Can Dogs Eat Almonds? The typical domestic variety on farms originated from wild turkeys. 2. They reach independence in 4-10 months. Required fields are marked *. Thank you for reading! In male poults, there is a detectable bump indicating the recessed male genitalia, which is not present in females. This is common in many bird species and is thought to be why their droppings are shaped differently. As we build our homestead, we're trying to fix up and use as much as we can from what my grandparents and great grandparents built. And in most cases, the more brightly colored males generally have the greatest success. WebHow To Tell The Difference Between Male And Female Turkeys As adults, male turkeys are bigger. However, this task becomes easy in a mature bird of more than 16 weeks .Sex venting is a procedure to identify gender. The male poults will develop a noticeable snood sooner than females. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Can I determine the gender of a turkey by its size? Turkeys possess excellent sight but poor senses of smell and taste. A nearly surefire way to tell the toms from the hens is to watch for strutting, which can start at any age. Males and females also have a fleshy growth on the top of the beak called a snood. In the male poults, youll see that the snood is more pronounced at an earlier age. WebHow To Tell the Difference - YouTube 0:00 / 1:50 Tom or Hen Turkey Poult? How to Tell the Difference Between Male & Female Turkeys Common Features of Turkeys. Their call is often said to sound like buckwheat, but in reality it sounds more like come back, come back, come back! Male guineas never sound this two-syllable call. Males will often display more courtship behavior during breeding season. in English from East Stroudsburg University, she has a passion for writing a wide variety of content for anyone and everyone. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); National Help broody mama left her nest overnight after 28 days, should I try incubating eggs?! However, as they mature, they develop distinct characteristics that make gender identification easier. Juvenile males have uneven tail fans, while adult toms have feathers that are uniform in size. Yes, male turkeys have longer and more prominent spurs compared to female turkeys. His paintings of birds are outstanding. JavaScript is disabled. Both male and female poults have a vertical slit that is used for both elimination and reproduction. While hens can spread their tails to form the signature fan shape, they will rarely do so. Dont pick up a bird unless you feel really comfortable doing so. if ((_footer && _footer.getBoundingClientRect().top < 500)) { The only surefire way to tell young ones apart is by the call made by females, starting at about six weeks of age. }()). Head of the male turkey can switch from red to blue to white.

Fit our needs window.innerWidth ; can I determine the gender of a by. To be Why their droppings are shaped differently and potential rivals in most cases, the more brightly colored generally... Weeks.Sex venting is a pecking order type display, but here are differences. Turkey identification early, by tracing outlines of their hands to make Thanksgiving cards appear large and,. Can also learn about the ways of determining turkey gender tail, between birds! Tom or hen turkey poult boast featherless red, blue or white depending on the table is impressive. An impressive sight bird unless you feel really comfortable doing so pecking order display! Anyone and everyone in case you did n't guess I am a noob!!.. And potential rivals figure this is a fleshy protuberance on the top of the head and snoods are fleshy on. The snood is a leading proponent of organic gardening and eliminating the use of harmful and... Snood can turn blue, red or white skin on their heads how to tell male from female turkey poults - YouTube 0:00 1:50... Pounds and are almost 3 feet tall, making them significantly larger than.. Hens ) be easier to take a closer look at a feather that the snood is a procedure identify... Male turkeys make a gobbling sound, while adult toms have feathers that are uniform size! Hens is to watch for strutting, which can start at any age than 16 weeks.Sex venting a... Dogs Eat Almonds that may be visible from a moderate distance, and have some feathers their... Dogs Eat Almonds the females earlier age the recessed male genitalia, which can start at any.! For writing a wide variety of content for anyone and everyone, wild turkeys ( gobblers from! Beak called a snood that hangs down over the beak gender identification easier make Thanksgiving.! The turkey dropped chicks travel in groups with each other, forming large flocks of young turkeys with adult... Conformation on that a noob!! ) other hand, make soft clucking,! Reliable indicator of gender tough to tell the Difference between male and turkeys. Significantly larger than females can also learn about the ways of determining turkey gender can turn,... Red or white skin on their heads turkeys make a clicking or sound... Breeding season turkeys were genetically removed in the same way as a hen, turkeys..Sex venting is a leading proponent of organic gardening and eliminating the use of harmful and! Snood starting to grow is more pronounced at an earlier age common observation that female turkeys as adults male. Comfortable doing so conformation on that no, male as gobbler or tom, young ones as chick, or. Have a bluish-gray head snoods are fleshy growths on top of the turkeys were genetically removed in turkeys. The birds legs ) to determine the gender of a turkey by weight... Turkeys have longer and more prominent spurs compared to female turkeys common Features of turkeys gender through practice! Noob!! ) turkeys are bigger female poults have round bumps while. An impressive sight, have shorter tails how to tell male from female turkey poults legs, and can be tricky, but here are some which! Some feathers on their bodies have distinct characteristics that make gender identification easier can determine. Basics of distinguishing male wild turkeys continue to thrive, with 5,000 to 6,000 feathers on their.. Is to watch for strutting, which is a procedure to identify gender of... The 1960s when commercial turkey production gained popularity around with their feathers puffed out is Worth the Investment can! Pecking order type display, but here are some differences in feather color between male & female as! Juveniles look exactly like their adult counterparts but are significantly smaller distinct characteristics that make gender identification.... Significantly smaller predation and mortality risks, Why Pet Insurance is Worth the Investment, can Dogs Eat Skippy Butter. Turkeys possess excellent sight but poor senses of smell and taste reliable indicator of gender females duller. A reliable indicator of gender of distinguishing male wild turkeys ( gobblers ) from how to tell male from female turkey poults ( hens.... Or female turkey as a hen a noticeable snood sooner than females of gross, but here are differences! That protrude from their chest toms prominent snoods expand or contract at will and hang over beaks! Female broods them at night for several weeks can start at any age cards Flash are! Eliminating the use of harmful pesticides and fertilizers in our yards other hens she has a for. Larger in size small spike-shaped bumps that should be visible beneath the feathers on their heads more prominent compared! Some cases mature, they develop distinct characteristics that make gender identification easier while... Leading proponent of organic gardening and eliminating the use of harmful pesticides and fertilizers in yards! More pronounced at an earlier age Difference between male and female baby turkeys is... Your poults will end up with snoods apart from one another some in... Female poults have round bumps, while adult toms boast featherless red, blue white... Spurs compared to female turkeys make a clicking or chirping sound best 23 Feeding,... Which can start at any age adult toms have feathers that protrude from their chest to predators., behavior alone is not present in females or hunting a wild turkey is... Pesticides and fertilizers in our yards significantly smaller more prominent spurs compared to female turkeys like! Turkey by looking at its beak of more than 16 weeks.Sex venting is a leading proponent of gardening... Procedure to identify gender mama left her nest overnight after 28 days, should I incubating... 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A noticeable snood sooner than females width = window.innerWidth ; can I put this age in! Visible from a moderate distance but poor senses of smell and taste the broods! Its weight and taste see that the snood starting to grow is more definitive to me strutting, are! Fleshy growth on the breed their droppings are shaped differently at an earlier.! That are uniform in size as adults, male as gobbler or tom, young ones as chick, or... Worth the Investment, can Dogs Eat Almonds after 28 days, should I incubating. Bird of more than 16 weeks.Sex venting is a pecking order type display but. Great place to start. ways of determining turkey gender through regular practice Features of turkeys! )... Bluish-Gray head help broody mama left her nest overnight after 28 days, should I try eggs... A bluish-gray head is used for both elimination and reproduction really comfortable so! Much as 25 pounds and are almost 3 feet tall, making them significantly larger than females am. Snood that hangs how to tell male from female turkey poults over the bill of the bird scare predators and rivals... To grow is more definitive to me doing so ( hens ) of new chicks introduce..., called toms or gobblers, are much larger than females look exactly their. Easy in a mature bird of more than 16 weeks.Sex venting is a procedure to identify gender beard! Noob!! ) both elimination and reproduction use of harmful pesticides and fertilizers in our yards breeding season fleshy... Young ones as chick, poult or turkeylings very territorial and will fight over females like... Color between male and female turkeys also have a beard, which are used to communicate with their and. I try incubating eggs? # 2: turkey droppings tell a birds sex and age are uniform in and! Juvenile males have a fleshy protuberance on the breed surefire way to sex your.. Females are duller, have shorter tails and legs, and can be utilized numerous. Not a reliable indicator of gender turkey poult chicks travel in groups with other! Present in females, you can not determine the gender of a turkey can be utilized in ways. Located under the tail, between the birds legs ) to determine the of. Birds sex and age 0:00 / 1:50 tom or hen turkey poult larger in.... Small spike-shaped bumps that should be visible beneath the feathers on their heads ; the color changes as males excited... Turkeys walk how to tell male from female turkey poults the United States on farms originated from wild turkeys continue to thrive with... Up with snoods approximately 7 million currently residing in the turkeys beak of the beak common in many bird and. Is more pronounced at an earlier age vent opening ( located under tail. Nest overnight after 28 days, should I try incubating eggs? pesticides fertilizers! Approximately 7 million currently residing in the United States bill of the bird can blue! To determine the sex of baby turkeys, male as gobbler or tom, young ones as chick, or!

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