how to tell male from female turkey poults

Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 408,655 times. Feathers. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Upon mating, a hen will leave to nest by herself. Subordinate males can assist their dominant brothers in mating, but only dominant males will sire poults (babies). The males will be heavier after a few days of eating. var rect = adElemSticky.getBoundingClientRect();
This is where the gross part comes in. As bird identification becomes more important, binoculars and a field guide become a valuable aid. Male turkeys, also known as toms, are known for their dominant behavior and aggressive mating displays. Will your flock make money? In conclusion, although male and female turkeys look similar at first glance, they have many differences in their behavior, appearance, sounds, and other characteristics. I haven't noticed a difference in snood sizes before 10 weeks. Enjoy! Males may become aggressive towards other animals that enter their territory. Unbelievably, there are quite a few ways to tell the difference between male and female turkeys! In addition to gobbling, toms make elaborate displays to attract females. Some males have a beard, which is a tuft of feathers that protrude from their chest. Male and female turkeys are sold straight run, meaning the males and females are all together in the as hatched ratio. Download the latest report for detailed information. (Will your flock make money?). Many will not reach maturity due to weather or predation from such animals as weasels, coyotes, mink, raccoons, skunks and snakes. Male turkey feathers have a metallic sheen to them in the Last year I was sure I had three bourbon red toms becasue of all the strutting. 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. Domesticated females are thirty-five inches long and weigh around eighteen pounds. Approximately 10 percent of hens possess a beard, or elongated chest feathers. We might only send you fresh updates once a month, No thanks! The only surefire way to tell young ones apart is by the call made by females, starting at about six weeks of age. Tail Feathers. Why Do You Cull Sheep? As guineas mature, the males head knobs, known as helmets, become slightly more vertical than the females knobs. Wild female turkeys, or hens, weigh from 5 to 12 pounds and range from 30 to 37 inches long. By shopping through our Amazon affiliate link, no matter what you buy, we will earn a small commission which helps us to continue to fix up and expand our homestead. Last Updated: March 13, 2023 Male turkeys are called toms or gobblers. This is the easiest way to tell the sexes apart at a glance, simply note the body size. Young turkeys also make a series of whistles when they are lost. Wild turkeys breed once per year and have 4-17 eggs in a clutch. Bird Bingo Everyone enjoys a rousing game of bingo, especially when birds are used instead of numbers. Along with this, color of the male turkeys head will change depending on its current level of excitement (especially during mating season). The reason this chart is significant is that it shows why the males are bigger than the females, they simply take in more feed per day so they gain more. The larger the diameter, the older the bird. Males boast dark iridescent plumage; large, fanning tails; prominent snoods; and wattles. Turkey poults and guinea keets are difficult to sex, and therefore are typically sold as straight run. Caruncles really start to develop after that on males also. Download Bird Bingo here. Support wikiHow by Perhaps his best known bird illustrations are of hummingbirds. Special Offer on the first-of-its-kind Natural Organic Certification Course Howard Garrett has developed on online course leading to certification for those who successfully complete the 15 chapter course. However, the snoods and wattles are different depending on the sex. It is very similar in appearance to the female Black-headed Grosbeak of the western United States. Juvenile turkeys have shorter tail feathers and smaller snoods compared to adult turkeys. Thanks! 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. Glenn really gets around, and we are never quite sure where he will contact us next. Male turkeys use these spurs to fend off attacks and guard hens in the same way roosters do. Vent sexing began in the 1920s as a method of determining gender in chicks and poults. Male domesticated turkeys weigh 30 to 80 Do yourself a favor and keep a few extra birds around to keep your breeding program going even when the unexpected happens. Two were hens. Guinea keets are even more difficult to sex than turkey poults. The bird paintings and bird illustrations by John James Audubon are perhaps the most famous. Male turkeys have shiny, black feathers and brightly-colored heads. In addition, male poults tend to be more territorial and aggressive toward other birds and their companions than female poults. References. I used to think I could sex my turkeys at a very young age. Its tough to tell the males from the females as poults. Mexico boasts the ocellated turkey. And the males wattles will be slightly larger, thicker, and wider spread. Male turkeys will always have a breast beard as well, while very few hens do. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Our main enterprise is sheep, with pigs, a few cattle, garlic and a ton of poultry, as well! Both of your poults will end up with snoods. Another way to tell female and male turkeys apart is by looking at their heads. The new Birdzilla.com guide contains 2,000 high-quality photographs of over 650 species. On the other end it, We are excited to have Howard Garrett, aka the Dirt Doctor, participating in Birdzilla.com. Thanks for the info. Turkeys can reach nearly 3 feet tall. And thats todays news from the Cackle Coop. Toms can also be identified by their spurs, which are claw-like protrusions on the sides of the ankle. I have not seen it mentioned before (Id guess its somewhere, I just havent run across it) that the hens can fluff up and strutt, just like the toms. Males legs will also get thicker. No, you cannot determine the gender of a turkey by its weight. How to Tell the Difference Between Male & Female Turkeys Common Features of Turkeys. The hens will be smaller of course, but sometimes that is just what you are looking for. Are there any differences in the shape of the turkeys body between males and females? Chicken wasn't roosting, found on coop floor in the morning. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Youll see a huge difference in feed eaten per week and resulting weight of the birds. Can I determine the gender of a turkey by looking at its beak? With both a B.A. Males are more likely to be aggressive, especially during breeding season. 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. This method examines the vent, or opening, to examine the Wild female turkeys, or hens, weigh from 5 to 12 pounds and range from 30 to 37 inches long. There are those that move far beyond the backyard with the purpose of seeing new and different bird species. Feathers. Compare the chicks covert feathers to their primary feathers. Despite predation and mortality risks, wild turkeys continue to thrive, with approximately 7 million currently residing in the United States. You'll have to wait until they're quite a bit older to figure out their gender. Males will often display more courtship behavior during breeding season. The presence of a beard is the most reliable method for determining whether a turkey is male or female. To sex a turkey, check to see if it has a beard of stiff feathers running down its chest, which will only be present on a male turkey. What should I be looking for to determine whether they are male or female? This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. 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. They appear large Turkey Hens. Iake is a specific term whereas for young females use the term, Jenny. Another way to tell female and male turkeys apart is by looking at their heads. If you are selecting for female poults, do just the opposite. 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!) There are 20 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. How to Clean and Prepare Eggs for Incubation. The snood is that little fleshy bump that is sticking out of the top of the head where the beak meets the forehead. Trying to determine the gender of your newly-hatched turkey poults can be difficult, but when they are around 3 weeks of age the males (jakes) may begin to strut. Gobbling is often performed from the treetop roosts, where the sound carries better, and it can elicit responses from other males. Hens also have feathers on their heads, whereas toms do not. adElem.style.height = ''; Males often have more iridescent feathers, especially on their breast and tail. Here we are trying to list the common questions and queries about the ways for determining turkey gender and trying to answer them. Male turkeys are completely bald and have colorful heads painted in shades of red, white, and blue. How Much Feed Does It Take To Raise A Turkey? Turkeys belong to the same family as partridges, pheasants and peafowl. Webvideo of wild turkey sounds. Can I determine the gender of a turkey by its wattle or snood size? Gobblers are larger-bodied birds, with a darker coloration, at times appearing almost black. Top 5 Potential Risks, Can Dogs Eat Shrimp? While hens can spread their tails to form the signature fan shape, they will rarely do so. Female turkeys have blue-grey flesh that may be visible beneath the feathers on their heads. I haven't noticed a difference in snood sizes before 10 weeks. Both of your poults will end up with snoods. Look for a snood that hangs down over the beak. Most adult turkey breast feathers are squared off at the ends, while younger turkey breast feathers are more curved at the ends. Its Safe & Best 21 Tips, Can Dogs Eat Chicharrones? You can tell whether you are tracking a tom, or a hen based on the shape of their droppings. Males usually have longer, thicker wattles. in English from East Stroudsburg University, she has a passion for writing a wide variety of content for anyone and everyone. The male turkey also has a distinct waddle under the neck. WebMales usually have two testicles (testes), whereas females typically have just one ovary (ovum). Contact the AZ Animals editorial team. How to tell male from female turkey poults Gender identification is not an easy job in the case of turkeys. They strut, drag their wings and long tail feathers in the dirt, puff out their beards and most spectacularly, fan their tail feathers in a great arc. WebHow To Tell The Difference Between Male And Female Turkeys As adults, male turkeys are bigger. Accurately sexing baby turkeys, or poults is not considered to be a straightforward process. Determining the gender of a turkey can be tricky, but here are some tips which will help you for determining turkey gender. In this section of the site, well share information from Glenn Bartley, our staff photographer, and from other bird photographers. In male poults, there is a detectable bump indicating the recessed male genitalia, which is not present in females. Males provide no parental care for the younglings. (& how to tell when you need to). Males will puff out their feathers and fan their tail feathers when trying to impress females. adElemSticky.innerHTML = ''; I prefer to follow BirdZilla on Facebook. } else { Its tough to tell the males from the females as poults. Listening to the call of your birds is also an option for determining turkey gender. Best Tips for Determining Turkey Gender 1. In bright sunlight, their feathers cast a brilliant bronze or metallic iridescence. However, at about the same time the females start calling, the males heads take on a subtle blockier appearance compared to the females more refined heads. WebTURKEY FACT #2: Turkey droppings tell a birds sex and age. Males tend to have a more streamlined, athletic shape, while females are more rounded. Wild turkeys, unlike their domesticated cousins, fly well, from 40 to 55 miles per hour. As adults, male turkeys, called toms, are always bigger than females, called hens. Hi! Determining the sex of a turkey can be a bit challenging but with some basic information, it becomes quite easy. 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. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Heleen has loved the outdoors and nature since childhood and has always been fascinated with birds, leading her to research more about them. In this section, well be featuring some of the top bird artisits in the country. window.onscroll = function () {
The snood is a fleshy protuberance on the top of the turkeys beak. They posses a red flap of skin under their chins called a wattle, and they have bumps called caruncles on their heads and throats. var adElemSticky = document.getElementById('vi-sticky-ad'); The eggs themselves face risk of predation before hatching. Follow Birdzilla staff and friends as they travel across the country, Canada and around the World! Turkey males are called toms or gobblers, and females are called hens. WebMales usually have two testicles (testes), whereas females typically have just one ovary (ovum). J. Dianne Dotson is a science writer with a degree in zoology/ecology and evolutionary biology. adElem.style.visibility = 'visible'; It is found in subtropical or, We are pleased to provide the following information and resources free to anyone involved in education about nature and birds. Males will often try to assert dominance over other birds when it comes to food. Note that these tips are not foolproof, and it can still be difficult to determine the gender of a turkey with complete accuracy. Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full pricewine, food delivery, clothing and more. 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. Male turkeys, also known as toms, are generally larger in size and sport a prominent fleshy protuberance on their bills called a snood.. Both males and females are 24 to 36 inches long with a wingspan of 26 to 30 inches. 6 Respiratory Diseases of Chickens Why Is My Chicken Wheezing? 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. Males have long and drooping snoods whereas a females snood is short and small. Alternatively, you can look at the color of the turkeys feathers. I was wondering about this, too. unlocking this staff-researched answer. This article has been viewed 408,655 times. In spring, mature turkey hens determine the timing of breeding. Download here. If you need to sex turkeys for breeding purposes, hire a professional chicken sexer for help. The easiest way to tell whether a turkey is male, or female is its size. Male turkeys are more aggressive and territorial, while female turkeys are more docile and social. You can even tell the difference between a tom and a hen without seeing the bird itself. Yes, male turkeys have larger wattles and snoods compared to female turkeys. As turkey poults grow, you can take an educated guess as to which gender they are, based on a few criteria. if (rect.top <= 0) { Do you know if there are any feathering differences? Female turkeys, or hens, are smaller and less colorful, with shorter tails and legs. WebHow To Tell the Difference - YouTube 0:00 / 1:50 Tom or Hen Turkey Poult? What temperature can I put this age out in? As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Hope you will find answers of your questions or queries. Another way to tell female and male turkeys apart is by looking at their heads. The typical domestic variety on farms originated from wild turkeys. Janice is a professional and creative writer who has worked at wikiHow since 2019. Turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) represent an iconic North American bird species. Male turkeys have more colorful feathers than females, and they are also typically more brightly colored. Trying to determine the gender of your newly-hatched turkey poults can be difficult, but when they are around 3 weeks of age the males (jakes) may begin to strut. Your email address will not be published. Female turkeys do not strut. Females do not have beards. Both domesticated and wild toms, or male turkeys, are significantly bigger than the hens, or females. 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. However, this task becomes easy in a mature bird of more than 16 weeks .Sex venting is a procedure to identify gender. If you only have the exact number of turkeys you need, you are toast until you can source more birds! Pick up a young turkey (or poult) and see if its legs lift up or dangle down. Two were hens. It is a common observation that female turkeys look like a hen. (In case you didn't guess I am a noob!!!). Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.