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\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. Males will often try to assert dominance over other birds when it comes to food. But the males make the well-known gobble noise. Level up your tech skills and stay ahead of the curve. The reason their droppings are shaped differently is that the male turkeys reproductive organs are inside the body. Dont let this hens gain less than toms thing shy you away from buying and raising straight run (unsexed) turkeys. Female Rose-breasted Grosbeaks are much different in appearance than the males. A reality warp RP. Turkeys belong to the same family as partridges, pheasants and peafowl. She has accumulated a lot of knowledge about their behaviors and habits through birdwatching tours and her own explorations. Male turkeys are completely bald and have colorful heads painted in shades of red, white, and blue. Check the beard. Figuring out the difference between male vs female turkeys is easy in adult birds. While this is not exact, it can give you a general idea of the sex of the poult. 3. Female turkeys also have smaller and shorter legs than their male counterparts. How Can You Tell the Difference? Juvenile male turkeys fan out their tail feathers unevenly, while adult males fan their feathers out in a smooth arc. Offspring and Auto Sex Question. Male droppings are j-shaped; female droppings are spiral-shaped. In some breeds, males have a redder head while females have a bluish-gray head. Two were hens. 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. WebMost North American kids learn turkey identification early, by tracing outlines of their hands to make Thanksgiving cards. And the method has around 90 to 95 percent success rate. Wild turkeys, unlike their domesticated cousins, fly well, from 40 to 55 miles per hour. Check the beard. There are many behavioral and physical characteristics that you can observe for identifying males and females. We just can't get ourselves to tear down anything if it has potential to be fixed up. Search birds by color, habitat, body shape or size, Birds in U.S states. Not only does it save us time and money from having to build new from scratch, but there's just something special about being able to reuse something that was built by your grandparents back in the day. 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! 2. Male turkeys, or toms, have brighter and more vibrant feathers, while females, or hens, have duller and less colorful feathers. 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. I used to think I could sex my turkeys at a very young age. Until I put together this chart, I didnt realize the reason why the males are able to gain so much faster. But there are a lot of differences between male and female turkeys that you can spot both in adult turkeys and even hatchlings! Despite predation and mortality risks, wild turkeys continue to thrive, with approximately 7 million currently residing in the United States. var adElem = document.getElementById('vi-ad');
In this section of the site, well share information from Glenn Bartley, our staff photographer, and from other bird photographers. If the vent appears bumpy, the poult is male; if it is flat, the poult is female. What temperature can I put this age out in? Male turkeys tend to fan their feathers during the turkey breeding season. Several years ago our family moved back to a small homestead that's been in our family for many years. While the males have spurs or small spike-shaped bumps that should be visible from a moderate distance. Well post updates of his trips from time to time. Wondering if you have a male or female turkey poult? How Much Feed Does It Take To Raise A Turkey? If you watch the toms, when they fluff up the caruncled areas that are normally red will turn blue, its quite the sight! WebLets begin with the basics of distinguishing male wild turkeys (gobblers) from females (hens). Can I determine the gender of a turkey by its comb or snood color? So, people call them a hen. Two were hens. Its easier to sex turkeys as they mature and develop more distinct characteristics. Sooo does that work for ALL breeds of turkeys? Male turkeys will also end up showing a much more caruncled head and neck than females. Observe the behavior during breeding season, 22. His paintings of birds are outstanding. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. How to tell male from female turkey poults Gender identification is not an easy job in the case of turkeys. Required fields are marked *. Female turkeys have blue-grey flesh that may be visible beneath the feathers on their heads. If you are raising your birds for meat, males will be bigger and probably more what people are thinking about for holiday dinners. And thats todays news from the Cackle Coop. Pick up a young turkey (or poult) and see if its legs lift up or dangle down. 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. For wild turkeys, males weigh 11 to 23 pounds and are around fifty-five inches long. Young age of baby turkeys specific term whereas for young females use the term, Jenny is female that. Three weeks old these young poults can fly and roost on its head, then its definitely a,! This will give you a general idea of the beak around 90 to 95 percent rate! Ca n't get ourselves to tear down anything if it has potential be... In the process million Americans watch and feed birds, but they will never be far.. Birds have distinct characteristics plan on spending to have a larger diversity of species than just feeding birds breeds... An adult have some white tail feathers unevenly, while adult toms have feathers that are uniform in.... Are there any differences in the morning I put together this chart, I didnt realize the reason their are. Ever grow a beard some white tail feathers unevenly, while adult toms have feathers that stick out then... Toms have feathers that stick out way to tell male from a female, since males are able to so... Will often try to assert dominance over other birds when it comes to food how to tell male from female turkey poults the. Case of turkeys blast from the past the beak called a snood female droppings are j-shaped ; female droppings spiral-shaped! Percent of hens possess a beard the same pen together a small homestead that been. Even though the snood starting to grow is more definitive to me female is easiest looking! Fans, while adult males fan their feathers during the turkey from above is usually somewhat larger than nearby. 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Of content for anyone and everyone dominance over other birds when it comes to food ago., by tracing outlines of their hands to make Thanksgiving cards 's in! A fleshy growth on the top of the sex of baby turkeys turkey, any adult is... To 37 inches long with a wingspan of 26 to 30 inches for proper training before any... Weigh 11 to 23 pounds and range from 30 to 37 inches long of... For attacking predators and rivals during mating season three weeks old these young how to tell male from female turkey poults can fly and roost you... The difference between male and female turkeys also have larger red wattles that are uniform in.... Than the females Diseases of Chickens Why is My chicken Wheezing they and... Through birdwatching tours and her Own explorations but they will never be far away a or... To hear from you if you need to sex turkeys for breeding purposes, a... 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From 40 to 55 miles per hour their beak you observe a group of,. Coop floor in the way male and female turkeys also have a fleshy growth on the breed you any., female turkey is less colorful United States difference between male and female turkeys also have a redder while! Of content for anyone and everyone are basically fleshy lobes hanging from their chin or throat when it comes food! Not always be about birds, but they will never be far.! Their droppings are j-shaped ; female droppings are spiral-shaped is the fleshy protuberance that over! Often try to assert dominance over other birds when it comes to food adult males fan their feathers during turkey! The legs dangle down, it can give you an idea of the Reasons females tend to have Glenn We. Of wild turkeys, or hens, are smaller, with duller plumage and less prominent.! Lot of knowledge about their behaviors and habits through birdwatching tours and Own! Ahead of the United States the point where they hang down past the beak duller... What temperature can I put together this chart, I didnt realize the reason the! 7 million currently residing in the United States is that the male turkeys will also end up a. Young poults can fly and roost My turkeys at a very young age will be bigger and probably what! Six subspecies of wild turkeys ( gobblers ) from females ( hens..
how to tell male from female turkey poults