\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. Contact the AZ Animals editorial team. Check out the charts that show the feed needed by age for the poults. No! Observe the color of the head. Help broody mama left her nest overnight after 28 days, should I try incubating eggs?! This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. In some breeds, males and females may have different coloration. JavaScript is disabled. Male turkeys have spurs specifically to fight for the attention of female turkeys. Males will often strut around with their feathers puffed out. Yes! Female vs Male Turkeys: How to Tell a Young Turkeys Gender, Unlock staff-researched answers by supporting wikiHow, https://www.tn.gov/content/tn/twra/hunting/big-game/turkey/wild-turkey-identification-tutorial.html, https://dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/Documents/Turkey_curriculum_guide.pdf, https://www.mass.gov/service-details/identifying-female-and-male-turkeys-in-the-spring, https://www.dnr.sc.gov/wildlife/turkey/turkeyage.html, https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/-/media/Project/Websites/dnr/Documents/WLD/Turkey/turkey_smart_brochure.pdf, https://ohiodnr.gov/static/documents/wildlife/hunting-trapping/wild%20turkey%20aging%20and%20sexing%20guide.pdf, https://www.dnr.sc.gov/news/2020/nov/nov24-wildturkey.php, https://extension.missouri.edu/publications/g9526, https://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/my-life-as-a-turkey-wild-turkey-fact-sheet/7299/, https://chickenmag.com/male-vs-female-turkey-how-to-sex-poults/#7-how-to-tell-male-from-female-turkey-poults, https://chickenmag.com/male-vs-female-turkey-how-to-sex-poults/#2-tail-fanning, https://www.nwtf.org/content-hub/wild-turkey-lifestyle-and-breeding, https://www.provincetown-ma.gov/926/Wild-Turkey-Information, https://www.fws.gov/story/wild-facts-about-wild-turkeys, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwZuBiD-srs&t=4s, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwZuBiD-srs&t=6s, https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/thoughtful-animal/nothing-to-gobble-at-social-cognition-in-turkeys/, https://dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/Documents/All-About-the-WildTurkey.pdf, https://www.nwtf.org/hunt/wild-turkey-basics/turkey-sounds, . Six subspecies of wild turkeys exist, with at least one subspecies in every state of the United States except for Alaska. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Females are duller, have shorter tails and legs, and have some feathers on their heads. And during breeding season, the males use these brightly colored feathers for attracting females. Turkeys belong to the same family as partridges, pheasants and peafowl. Now that we only have one hen, I dont see this anymore. Yes, male turkeys have a more elongated and streamlined body shape compared to female turkeys. You can call female turkey as a hen, male as gobbler or tom, young ones as chick, poult or turkeylings. URI in 5 day old turkey poult, need advice Emergencies / Diseases / Injuries and Cures, Black Australorp (Hen) bred with Blue Plymouth Rock (Rooster)? 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. These big, spectacular birds are an increasingly common sight the rest of the year, too, as flocks stride around woods and Gobblers are larger-bodied birds, with a darker coloration, at times appearing almost black. Are there any differences in the color of the turkeys legs between males and females? Turkey Beards. Iake is a specific term whereas for young females use the term, Jenny. Despite predation and mortality risks, wild turkeys continue to thrive, with approximately 7 million currently residing in the United States. Males will often display more courtship behavior during breeding season. Turkey are large birds of North American origin. Birdzilla.com is your free resource to wild birds, their information, identification, facts and lots more. Its tough to tell the males from the females as poults. The eggs themselves face risk of predation before hatching. 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. Generally, the males have more brightly colored feathers than the females. You'll have to wait until they're quite a bit older to figure out their gender. No! Turkeys can reach nearly 3 feet tall. Several years ago our family moved back to a small homestead that's been in our family for many years. Can I determine the gender of a turkey by looking at its overall appearance? 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. Gobblers are larger-bodied birds, with a darker coloration, at times appearing almost black. Iake is a specific term whereas for young females use the term, Jenny. Some common aggressive turkey behaviors include pecking and fighting. Admittedly, it is kind of gross, but if you are tracking or hunting a wild turkey this is important to know! The younglings follow the females and forage their own food. Exhibition, Genetics, & Breeding to the SOP, Of Feathers And Flames- A Wings of Fire AU RP, The Moonshiner's Bootleg Easter Egg Hunt (now with prizes), Daily Writing Prompt Thread Thingy It'll Be Fun, The adventures of Speedy and friends! 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. Observe the behavior during breeding season, 22. If you are serious about breeding turkeys, youll want more than one tom and a few extra hens. Male turkeys have more colorful feathers than females, and they are also typically more brightly colored. Last year I was sure I had three bourbon red toms becasue of all the strutting. From two to three weeks old these young poults can fly and roost. Some males have a beard, which is a tuft of feathers that protrude from their chest. The large plates often used a thin layer of gold on the gorget (throat) of the males hummingbirds. Available on Amazon.com or at Barnes&Noble. Adult toms boast featherless red, blue or white skin on their heads; the color changes as males grow excited. Check the beard. Those that participate in the hobby arebirders. It is typically longer on 2. Emergencies / Diseases / Injuries and Cures. If you are raising your birds for meat, males will be bigger and probably more what people are thinking about for holiday dinners. WebHow To Tell The Difference Between Male And Female Turkeys As adults, male turkeys are bigger. How to Tell the Difference Between Male & Female Turkeys Common Features of Turkeys. 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. Dont let this hens gain less than toms thing shy you away from buying and raising straight run (unsexed) turkeys. Male and female turkeys are sold straight run, meaning the males and females are all together in the as hatched ratio. Like sexing chickens, verifying a male vs a female turkey poult causes some pain to the bird and can cause damage if not done right. window.onscroll = function () {
Juvenile males have uneven tail fans, while adult toms have feathers that are uniform in size. 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. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. 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. Generally, the males are larger in size and overall appearance than the females. He also leads photo workshops in places like Peru, Ecuador, and Costa Rica. You can call female turkey as a hen, male as gobbler or tom, young ones as chick, poult or turkeylings. The easiest way to tell whether a turkey is male, or female is its size. Both photographs by Alan Wilson. Males and females can strut. You are using an out of date browser. How old does a turkey need to be before its gender can be reliably determined? adElem.style.display = 'block'; The male turkey also has a distinct waddle under the neck. Can I determine the gender of a turkey by its comb or snood color? Female turkeys have blue-grey flesh that may be visible beneath the feathers on their heads. Hatching and Brooding Your Own Chicks: Chickens, Turkeys, Ducks, Geese, Guinea Fowl. Inspect the vent opening (located under the tail, between the birds legs) to determine the sex of baby turkeys. Male turkeys have shiny, black feathers and brightly-colored heads. Among poults of the same breed, the little hens are somewhat daintier. 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. To me, this is the easiest thing to spot for identifying male turkey poults. She spent nine years working in laboratory and clinical research. It requires extreme care and needs double-check also in some cases. As adults, male turkeys, called toms, are always bigger than females, called hens. Caruncles really start to develop after that on males also. A snood dangles from their beaks. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Lifecycle of Female Turkeys. Instructions, a call sheet and 12 bingo cards are provided. And the method has around 90 to 95 percent success rate. Caruncles really start to develop after that on males also. If you are interested in the differences between breeds of turkeys, read my article 10 Breeds Of Turkeys For Raising Your Own Meat. How to Tell the Difference Between Male & Female Turkeys Common Features of Turkeys. Your email address will not be published. Heres an article I wrote about How Much Feed Does It Take To Raise A Turkey? Male turkeys are very territorial and will fight over females just like roosters. Male turkeys are more aggressive and territorial, while female turkeys are more docile and social. While female turkey feathers are a little bit shiny, they arent nearly as iridescent as a male turkeys are. Most of the male turkeys generally have completely featherless heads, while the females have small feathers that extend over the top of their heads. If you are just starting out you might find his Organic Guides a great place to start. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
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