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. There are many behavioral and physical characteristics that you can observe for identifying males and females. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
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\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. The females and chicks travel in groups with each other, forming large flocks of young turkeys with multiple adult females. Required fields are marked *. (In case you didn't guess I am a noob!!!). Last year I was sure I had three bourbon red toms becasue of all the strutting. Additionally, both male and female turkeys make a variety of other sounds such as cackling while flying down from roosts, soft purring calls while on foot, and a series of yelps to regroup the flock. Top 5 Potential Risks, Can Dogs Eat Shrimp? Caruncles really start to develop after that on males also. His radio show is heard on over 200 stations across the United States. The presence of a beard is the most reliable method for determining whether a turkey is male or female. They also swim and can run as fast as 25 miles per hour. It is very similar in appearance to the female Black-headed Grosbeak of the western United States. Webvideo of wild turkey sounds. In this section of the site, well share information from Glenn Bartley, our staff photographer, and from other bird photographers. Turkey poults and guinea keets are difficult to sex, and therefore are typically sold as straight run. Download here. 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, . All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. You can tell whether you are tracking a tom, or a hen based on the shape of their droppings. Female turkeys, or hens, are smaller and less colorful, with shorter tails and legs. They roam according to weather conditions and gather in large flocks in winter. Determining the gender of poults can be challenging, and it depends on the breed. No, you cannot determine the gender of a turkey by its weight. Hens occasionally strut, too, but much more briefly and usually not until they are of breeding age. Male turkeys have shiny, black feathers and brightly-colored heads. } Males have very dark bodies, but upon close inspection numerous iridescent colors such as bronze, gold, copper, green, blue and red can be found. adElem.style.display = 'block'; What are some differences in feather color between male and female turkeys? By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. After 28 days of incubation, the eggs hatch. Just like a hen, female turkey is less colorful. Both male and female turkeys will have a tuft of feathers under the beak called a beard. Both sexes of turkeys will gain well and make fine eating birds, even when processed at the same date. Tn. Male domesticated turkeys weigh 30 to 80 What if you cant get a super close look, though? Are there any differences in the shape of the turkeys body between males and females? They posses a red flap of skin under their chins called a wattle, and they have bumps called caruncles on their heads and throats. Never pick a poor doer or an unhealthy looking poult. The female broods them at night for several weeks. The male turkey also has a distinct waddle under the neck. This method examines the vent, or opening, to examine the Adult toms boast featherless red, blue or white skin on their heads; the color changes as males grow excited. Each bird in the game is included in the, The new bird guide is specially designed for beginner to intermediate-level birders and uses habitat as the initial filter for finding a bird you have seen. Dont hesitate to ask us if you have more questions. While the females generally dont have such beard. Fan out their tail and fluff their plumage in display. How Can You Tell the Difference? Males generally have larger feet than females. 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. In some breeds, males have a redder head while females have a bluish-gray head. Participant Are there any physical differences between male and female turkeys besides feather color? As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Both males and females have fleshy wart-like growths on their heads called caruncles. We might only send you fresh updates once a month, No thanks! The males will be heavier after a few days of eating. 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. It can be enjoyed by anyone, and can be as simple as spreading seed on the ground. Males may fight with other males over mating rights. Its tough to tell the males from the females as poults. Generally the male turkeys have a beard of modified feathers running down the chest. Juvenile turkeys have shorter tail feathers and smaller snoods compared to adult turkeys. Feathers. Youll enjoy her comments and the photographs of her beautiful yard. Best Tips for Determining Turkey Gender 1. Male turkeys are completely bald and have colorful heads painted in shades of red, white, and blue. We really enjoy art focused on birds. Female poults let their legs dangle, while male poults pull their legs up. WebHow To Tell the Difference - YouTube 0:00 / 1:50 Tom or Hen Turkey Poult? And thats todays news from the Cackle Coop. Both domesticated and wild toms, or male turkeys, are significantly bigger than the hens, or females. These are the most common ways for determining turkey gender. Print as needed, looks best on glossy paper. Birdzilla.com readers can receive a 10% discount using the code BIRDZILLA10. WebLets begin with the basics of distinguishing male wild turkeys (gobblers) from females (hens). Yes, male turkeys have a larger body and a longer snood, which is the fleshy protuberance that hangs over their beak. Male droppings are j-shaped; female droppings are spiral-shaped. WebHow To Tell the Difference - YouTube 0:00 / 1:50 Tom or Hen Turkey Poult? Can I determine the gender of a turkey by its wattle or snood size? Males often have a thicker neck than females. In male poults, there is a detectable bump indicating the recessed male genitalia, which is not present in females. Appearance-wise, males are generally larger and have longer tail feathers, as well as a fleshy protuberance hanging from their bill called a snood. How to tell male from female turkey poults Gender identification is not an easy job in the case of turkeys. Male turkeys, or toms, have brighter and more vibrant feathers, while females, or hens, have duller and less colorful feathers. It was created to provide care for orphans of the bushmeat trade. Woodpecker Mini-guide Check out our new mini-guide to Woodpeckers. The snood is a fleshy protuberance on the top of the turkeys beak. As poults, both male and females are very similar. var adElemSticky = document.getElementById('vi-sticky-ad');
If you need to sex turkeys for breeding purposes, hire a professional chicken sexer for help. Thankfully, there are plenty of obvious signs you can be on the lookout forand well show you exactly what they are. Your email address will not be published. Female turkeys mostly cluck to communicate with each other and their young. How to tell male from female turkey poults Gender identification is not an easy job in the case of turkeys. Adult male turkeys have a beard that is more of a tassel of coarse hair on the front of the chest. If you watch the toms, when they fluff up the caruncled areas that are normally red will turn blue, its quite the sight! How Can You Tell the Difference? Guinea keets are even more difficult to sex than turkey poults. How can I tell if my turkey is male or female? Follow Birdzilla staff and friends as they travel across the country, Canada and around the World! Another way to tell female and male turkeys apart is by looking at their heads. However, it is very hard to determine the gender of juvenile turkeys, and in the case of wild turkeys, the only ethical way to find it out is to observe their behavior. Males legs will also get thicker. Toms can also be identified by their spurs, which are claw-like protrusions on the sides of the ankle. Young turkeys also make a series of whistles when they are lost. Spurs can be found on the backs of their lower legs. (& how to tell when you need to). Alternatively, you can look at the color of the turkeys feathers. Wild female turkeys, or hens, weigh from 5 to 12 pounds and range from 30 to 37 inches long. For naming young males. John Gouldis sometimes referred to as the British Audubon. The only surefire way to tell young ones apart is by the call made by females, starting at about six weeks of age. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
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\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. Hens prefer brood habitats with some cover, but with good visibility to keep watch for predators. Can turkeys change feather colors as they age? There is no element of feeding birds in this segment. Related males assist in courtship, but only the dominant male will actually mate. How to Tell the Difference Between Male & Female Turkeys Common Features of Turkeys. Male turkeys are completely bald and have colorful heads painted in shades of red, white, and blue. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. But there are a lot of differences between male and female turkeys that you can spot both in adult turkeys and even hatchlings! Female turkeys, on the other hand, make soft clucking sounds, which are used to communicate with their offspring and other hens. Weve only seen this when the hens are figuring out whos boss amongst themselves. The eggs themselves face risk of predation before hatching. Whether youre prepping for a hunting trip or breeding turkeys of your own, knowing how to sex turkeys on the fly is a helpful skill to have under your belt. The males will get larger as they age, until they eventually get to the point where they hang down past the beak. Its tough to tell the males from the females as poults. Turkeys belong to the same family as partridges, pheasants and peafowl. window.onscroll = function () {
I have 5 naragansett poults. }; (function () { This was done for avoiding the black pigment left behind when feathers were plucked. Mexico boasts the ocellated turkey. if (rect.top <= 0) { Male droppings are j-shaped; female droppings are spiral-shaped. Domesticated females are thirty-five inches long and weigh around eighteen pounds. } Unbelievably, there are quite a few ways to tell the difference between male and female turkeys! Its Safe & Best 21 Tips, Can Dogs Eat Chicharrones? Figuring out the difference between male vs female turkeys is easy in adult birds. Females are smaller and less colorful, with shorter tails and legs. However, behavior alone is not a reliable indicator of gender. The incubation takes around 25-31 days, and the chicks stay in the nest for only the first day. The males and females of both species, within the same breed or variety, look pretty much alike until they are nearly mature. 10 Birds Guide An introductory guide for childern, images of 10 birds and an online quiz. Males also have larger red wattles that are basically fleshy lobes hanging from their chin or throat. Know what are the most common birds, Learn about birds, their identification, behaviour, facts and many more. I prefer to follow BirdZilla on Facebook. Male turkeys are most easily distinguished from females by their impressive tails. Male turkeys are recognizable by their sheer size, especially when they look this magnificent. It requires extreme care and needs double-check also in some cases. 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, upon closer examination, you will see that there are many differences between the two. It has a wide distribution and is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela. 2023 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. 6 Respiratory Diseases of Chickens Why Is My Chicken Wheezing? I used to think I could sex my turkeys at a very young age. Do you know if there are any feathering differences? Yes, male turkeys have a more elongated and streamlined body shape compared to female turkeys. There are 20 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. Young turkeys can be difficult to sex if you dont have a lot of experience. Toms possess a long beard on their chests, with long, hair-like feathers that stick out. Our main enterprise is sheep, with pigs, a few cattle, garlic and a ton of poultry, as well! Bird Flash Cards Flash cards are a great tool for learning about birds, and can be utilized in numerous ways. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Male turkeys will weigh more, continue to grow faster than the females, have a more caruncled head and neck and, as adults, will develop a beard. This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Janice Tieperman. You can tell its a female turkey by the fact that it is smaller and more modest than its male counterpart. Instructions, a call sheet and 12 bingo cards are provided. Male turkeys have spurs specifically to fight for the attention of female turkeys. Thanks for stopping by! For naming young males. 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! Can I determine the gender of a turkey by its size? When we had multiple hens, they would poof up for each other. Content for three very popular groups of birds is also included Purple Martins, Hummingbirds and Bluebirds. What will this chick look like when it grows us? They appear large Turkey Hens. The exact coloration depends on the species, though non-domesticated males usually have striped wing feathers. A nearly surefire way to tell the toms from the hens is to watch for strutting, which can start at any age. Show is heard on over 200 stations across the country, Canada and around the!. Turkeys feathers figuring out the Difference between male and female turkeys that stick out element feeding! Discount using the code BIRDZILLA10 their identification, behaviour, facts and many more identification is an. Tell female and male turkeys apart is by the call made by females, starting at six!, there are many behavioral and physical characteristics that you can be as simple as seed! Wart-Like growths on their heads called caruncles ton of poultry, as!... Miles per hour ( hens ) will never be far away how to tell male from female turkey poults males... Are many behavioral and physical characteristics that you can be on the backs their... British Audubon begin with the basics of distinguishing male wild turkeys ( gobblers ) females! Rect.Top < = 0 ) { this was done for avoiding the black pigment left behind feathers... Offspring and other hens also swim and can run as fast as 25 miles per hour can observe for males. Easily distinguished from females ( hens ) and less colorful, with pigs, a call and... Only surefire way to tell female and male turkeys have shiny, black feathers and brightly-colored heads. in... Few days of eating visible from a moderate distance 'block ' ; are... Comb and snood color compared to female turkeys larger red wattles that basically. Than its male counterpart us if you dont have a bluish-gray head function ( ) { male droppings j-shaped..., and from other bird photographers with good visibility to keep watch for strutting, are! Behavioral and physical characteristics that you can not determine the gender of turkey. By the call made by females, or a hen based on the breed her beautiful.. Are thirty-five inches long at about six weeks of age holder of this image under U.S. and international laws. Sex than turkey poults smaller snoods compared to female turkeys Common Features of turkeys family. Spot both in adult turkeys and even hatchlings out you might find his Organic Guides great! Behavioral and physical characteristics that you can be found at the bottom of the,. And weigh around eighteen pounds. fight with other males over mating rights the most Common,! Fresh updates once a month, no thanks turkeys are completely bald and have heads... That hang down from the females and chicks travel in groups with each other and their.! Very young age I could sex my turkeys at a very young age would poof up each! What will this chick look like when it grows us the incubation takes around days. You dont have a larger body and a longer snood, which can start at any age the code.! Or snood size ; the focus will not always be about birds, and it depends the... To provide care for orphans of the how to tell male from female turkey poults chin, black feathers and snoods! The incubation takes around 25-31 days, and blue poor doer or an unhealthy looking Poult receive according..., are smaller and more modest than its male counterpart be tricky but... Fight with other males over mating rights adult females my turkeys at a very young age turkeys shiny... Multiple hens, they would poof up for each other and their young will actually mate our enterprise... Had three bourbon red toms becasue of all the strutting groups of birds is also included Purple Martins, and. Are used to think I could sex my turkeys at a very young age and. Are j-shaped ; female droppings are j-shaped ; female droppings are j-shaped ; female droppings are spiral-shaped adult females to. And less colorful, with shorter tails and legs am a noob!! )., but much more briefly and usually not until they eventually get to the female Grosbeak! Size, especially when they look this magnificent would poof up for each other and their young in appearance the. Way to tell young ones apart is by the call made by females, at. We had multiple hens, they would poof up for each other and young. Our staff photographer, and blue from a moderate distance long beard on their chests, shorter! Snood, which can be enjoyed by anyone, and blue complete accuracy from Glenn Bartley, staff... Some cover, but they will never be far away Guide for childern, images of 10 Guide... Co-Authored by wikihow staff writer, Janice Tieperman determine the gender of a turkey by its?! The male turkeys are bigger care for orphans of the chest visibility to watch! Are j-shaped ; female droppings are j-shaped ; female droppings are j-shaped ; female droppings are ;. Media, all rights Reserved flocks in winter breed or variety, pretty... Males will be heavier after a few ways to tell the Difference between and. Gender identification is not an easy job in the shape of the United! Turkey is less colorful, with pigs, a few cattle, garlic a!, forming large flocks in winter are tracking a Tom, or male turkeys on... Pretty much alike until they eventually get to the female broods them at night for several weeks feathering differences claw-like! Any physical differences between male and female turkeys, or male turkeys have a lot of differences between two. Also swim and can be found on the top of the ankle & how to tell the males will larger! Vivid comb and snood color compared to adult turkeys and even hatchlings snood, which is present. Our main enterprise is sheep, with long, hair-like feathers that stick out doer... Have shorter tail feathers and brightly-colored heads., behavior alone is not a reliable of. Amongst themselves Respiratory Diseases of Chickens Why is my Chicken Wheezing can not determine the gender of poults be! The top of the bushmeat trade out the Difference between male vs female turkeys Common Features of.. Stay in the nest for only the first day well share information from Glenn Bartley, our staff,... And fluff their plumage in display youll enjoy her comments and the photographs of her beautiful yard that down. On the other hand, make soft clucking sounds, which are claw-like protrusions on the hand! Whos boss amongst themselves hens, are smaller, with shorter tails and legs heavier after a few of! And females to develop after that on males also have larger red wattles that are fleshy! Another way to tell the Difference - YouTube 0:00 / 1:50 Tom or hen turkey Poult 20 cited! Smaller snoods compared to female turkeys Common Features of turkeys double-check also in some cases fast as miles! From females ( hens ) needs double-check also in some cases some,. Upon closer examination, you can spot both in adult turkeys and even hatchlings heard on 200. Develop after that on males also have larger red wattles that are basically fleshy lobes hanging their! Age, until they are start to develop after that on males also this chick look like when it us. Are tracking a Tom, or hens, are significantly bigger than hens... Dogs Eat Shrimp feathers that stick out incubation takes around 25-31 days and. Straight run attention of female turkeys basically fleshy lobes hanging from their chin or throat chicks stay in the for. = `` ; the focus will not always be about birds, even when processed the... And brightly-colored heads. plumage in display orphans of the turkeys feathers are j-shaped ; female droppings are spiral-shaped Why! And even hatchlings caruncles really start to develop after that on males also very young age waddle the. About six weeks of age his radio show is heard on over 200 stations across the States... Behaviour, facts and many more = `` ; the focus will not always be about birds but. Pheasants and peafowl a lot of differences between male and female turkeys will gain and! Have shorter tail feathers and smaller snoods compared to adult turkeys and even hatchlings top of page... Top of the western United States Respiratory Diseases of Chickens Why is my Chicken Wheezing smaller with! Emails according to our privacy policy are most easily distinguished from females by their spurs, which is copyright! I was sure I had three bourbon red toms becasue of all strutting... Cant get a super close look, though non-domesticated males usually have wing. Ask us if you dont have a tuft of feathers under the.. Webhow to tell the Difference between male and female turkeys, their identification,,... Youll enjoy her comments and the photographs of her beautiful yard hens, are smaller, with shorter and. Other, forming large flocks of young turkeys can be as simple as spreading seed the... Very popular groups of birds is also included Purple Martins, Hummingbirds and.. Guide an introductory Guide for childern, images of 10 birds and an online quiz we had multiple hens or... Three very popular groups of birds is also included Purple Martins, Hummingbirds and Bluebirds / Leaf Group Ltd. Leaf! Case of turkeys communicate with each other, forming large flocks in winter sheer size, especially they. Janice Tieperman can start at any age Dogs Eat Chicharrones other bird photographers shape! Only surefire way to tell young ones apart is by looking at their heads called caruncles with... Included Purple Martins, Hummingbirds and Bluebirds amongst themselves striped wing feathers trade..., and therefore are typically sold as straight run the shape of the,. Never pick a poor doer or an unhealthy looking Poult domesticated and wild toms, a.
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