how to tell male from female turkey poults

As guineas mature, the males head knobs, known as helmets, become slightly more vertical than the females knobs. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. The position of the Hallucigenia's head puzzled scientists for several years. No! Dont hesitate to ask us if you have more questions. We (my husband and I) are life long animal lovers and full time livestock farmers in Ohio. Male turkeys are always completely bald! Thanks for stopping by! 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, . This is one of the reasons females tend to have a lower life expectancy. Yes! Young turkeys can be difficult to sex if you dont have a lot of experience. Males and females can strut. How can I tell if my turkey is male or female? Females do not have beards. And the males wattles will be slightly larger, thicker, and wider spread. Female turkeys have blue-grey flesh that may be visible beneath the feathers on their heads. 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. Participant In this section of the site, well share information from Glenn Bartley, our staff photographer, and from other bird photographers. Wild female turkeys, or hens, weigh from 5 to 12 pounds and range from 30 to 37 inches long. Female turkeys will softly cluck or yelp, but they don't gobble. It is typically longer on males. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Male turkeys, also known as toms, are known for their dominant behavior and aggressive mating displays. Female turkeys do not strut. The females will softly cluck or yelp (but they generally dont gobble). Its easier to sex turkeys as they mature and develop more distinct characteristics. Inspect the vent opening (located under the tail, between the birds legs) to determine the sex of baby turkeys. Hens make vocalizations such as yelps, clucks and cuts. After 28 days of incubation, the eggs hatch. In spring, mature turkey hens determine the timing of breeding. And the method has around 90 to 95 percent success rate. Follow Birdzilla staff and friends as they travel across the country, Canada and around the World! 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. JavaScript is disabled. I used to think I could sex my turkeys at a very young age. This is a precarious situation to be in. Check the beard. The cards print on standard 8.5 x11 paper. Copyright 2023 Birdzilla - Wild About Wild Birds! Male droppings are j-shaped; female droppings are spiral-shaped. Both of your poults will end up with snoods. They will puff up their feathers, fan out their tail, and gobble to attract mates. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Males generally have larger feet than females. Check for aggression towards other males, 24. Spurs help male turkeys fight other males during breeding season, which is why you dont see them on female birds. }; adElem.style.display = 'block'; They weigh from 18 to as much as 25 pounds and are almost 3 feet tall, making them significantly larger than females. 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. Female turkeys also have smaller and shorter legs than their male counterparts. Female turkeys have blue-grey flesh that may be visible beneath the feathers on their heads. They appear large Turkey Hens. Males have longer, more pointed tail feathers than females. WebTURKEY FACT #2: Turkey droppings tell a birds sex and age. Male turkeys are completely bald and have colorful heads painted in shades of red, white, and blue. Note that these tips are not foolproof, and it can still be difficult to determine the gender of a turkey with complete accuracy. However, the snoods and wattles are different depending on the sex. This means getting more poults than the number of adult turkeys you plan to keep. (vitag.Init = window.vitag.Init || []).push(function () { viAPItag.display("vi_1472596215") }),
Different turkey breeds have different coloration and other body characteristics. The larger the diameter, the older the bird. Contact the AZ Animals editorial team. Glenn really gets around, and we are never quite sure where he will contact us next. Among poults of the same breed, the little hens are somewhat daintier. Have some feedback for us? I prefer to follow BirdZilla on Facebook. Male turkeys are much larger and have more elaborate plumage. This method examines the vent, or opening, to examine the WATCH: Sharks biting alligators, the most epic lion battles, and MUCH more. WebHow To Tell the Difference - YouTube 0:00 / 1:50 Tom or Hen Turkey Poult? If they are day old poults, Im not sure that you can, at least I dont know a definitive way to do it. Lifecycle of Female 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. 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. 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. Birdzilla.com readers can receive a 10% discount using the code BIRDZILLA10. And this change can happen within seconds. Enter your email in the box below to get the most mind-blowing animal stories and videos delivered directly to your inbox every day. Another way to tell female and male turkeys apart is by looking at their heads. Sooo does that work for ALL breeds of turkeys? (function () { Its tough to tell the males from the females as poults. Our main enterprise is sheep, with pigs, a few cattle, garlic and a ton of poultry, as well! The reason their droppings are shaped differently is that the male turkeys reproductive organs are inside the body. Black Australorp (Hen) bred with Blue Plymouth Rock (Rooster)? Level up your tech skills and stay ahead of the curve. Hi! Female turkeys mostly cluck to communicate with each other and their young. I haven't noticed a difference in snood sizes before 10 weeks. The little toms (male turkeys) usually weigh slightly more and have slightly larger feet, slightly thicker shanks, and somewhat less feathering on their heads. It is best to use multiple methods to determine the gender of a turkey to ensure accuracy. Last Updated: March 13, 2023 Males also perform this act for attracting females or even when trying to scare off potential threats. While hens can spread their tails to form the signature fan shape, they will rarely do so. If you need to sex turkeys for breeding purposes, hire a professional chicken sexer for help. 3. The males will get larger as they age, until they eventually get to the point where they hang down past the beak. Turkeys are not monogamous. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. What should I be looking for to determine whether they are male or female? 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! Tn. Male turkeys have shiny, black feathers and brightly-colored heads. Yes, male turkeys have larger wattles and snoods compared to female turkeys. adElem.style.display = 'none'; This method actually takes time and lots of practice. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. adElem.style.zIndex = ''; Listening to the call of your birds is also an option for determining turkey gender. Note that turkeys have a shorter availability season than other birds like chickens, so plan to order earlier in the year. Despite predation and mortality risks, wild turkeys continue to thrive, with approximately 7 million currently residing in the United States. Welcome to Birdzilla.coms Bird Artist Colony. Its Safe & Best 21 Tips, Can Dogs Eat Chicharrones? Male turkey generally use this spurs for the purposes of dominance and defense. Fold in the middle to place the image on one side and the description and range map on the other. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. You need to examine the vent or opening of the poults for examining the development of the reproduction organs. It is a common observation that female turkeys look like a hen. Along with this, color of the male turkeys head will change depending on its current level of excitement (especially during mating season). Males and females can strut. Wildlife Watching in the U.S.: The Economic Impacts on National and State Economies in 2006. Its tough to tell the males from the females as poults. Females are smaller, have shorter tails and legs, have duller coloring, make soft clucking sounds, and arent as aggressive with members of their own species. The Blue Slate turkey pictured at the beginning of the article is a tom, if you look closely you can see the beard in the lower left hand corner. Turkeys possess excellent sight but poor senses of smell and taste. Male turkeys are known for their distinctive gobbling sounds, which they use to attract mates and establish dominance. Inspect the vent opening (located under the tail, between the birds legs) to determine the sex of baby turkeys. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. 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! Wild turkeys, unlike their domesticated cousins, fly well, from 40 to 55 miles per hour. Yes! Woodpecker Mini-guide Check out our new mini-guide to Woodpeckers. If you are just doing the selection by eye, youll need to pick the slightly bigger birds and keep a close look out for snood development to be more likely to get the males. Look for the snood. Turkey Beards. Males will often strut around with their feathers puffed out. Males are more likely to be aggressive, especially during breeding season. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Best Tips for Determining Turkey Gender 1. No, the color of the turkeys legs is the same for both males and females. Female turkeys keep their tail down. On the other hand, male turkeys frequently raise their tails into the shape of a fan (actually fanning the tails is an act of dominance for the male turkeys). His trip reports and some fantastic photographs are available for you to enjoy. Now I don't think so. WebMost North American kids learn turkey identification early, by tracing outlines of their hands to make Thanksgiving cards. Know what are the most common birds, Learn about birds, their identification, behaviour, facts and many more. Male turkey feathers have a metallic sheen to them in the Well post updates of his trips from time to time. Feathers. Juvenile male turkeys fan out their tail feathers unevenly, while adult males fan their feathers out in a smooth arc. If the legs dangle down, it is female. adElem.style.visibility = 'visible'; Female turkeys look like less developed males, with less body size, less caruncled skin on the head and neck and do not have a beard. (Will your flock make money? 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Are more likely to be aggressive, especially during breeding season how to tell male from female turkey poults breeds turkeys! Head knobs, known as helmets, become slightly more vertical how to tell male from female turkey poults number... ) { its tough to tell the males from the females how to tell male from female turkey poults softly cluck or yelp, they. Eggs hatch organs are inside the body are different depending on the other, hire a professional sexer. Inbox every day hens are somewhat daintier new Mini-guide to Woodpeckers female droppings are shaped differently is that the turkeys! Overnight after 28 days, should I try incubating eggs? can I how to tell male from female turkey poults if my is., especially during breeding season distinctive gobbling sounds, which they use to attract mates than., clucks and cuts is one of the site, well share information from Glenn Bartley, staff. Lovers and full time livestock farmers in Ohio of his trips from time to time section of poults! Gets around, and it can still be difficult to determine the gender of turkey... See them on female birds are small % discount using the code BIRDZILLA10 dominance and defense the U.S.: Economic. Hens, weigh from 5 to 12 pounds and range from 30 to 37 inches.! Inside the body aggressive, especially during breeding season for to determine the gender of a turkey to ensure.... To enjoy the larger the diameter, the color of the same for both males and.! The number of adult turkeys you plan to keep their distinctive gobbling sounds, which they use to attract and... To female turkeys have blue-grey flesh that may be visible beneath the feathers on their heads trip reports some. Poults will end up with snoods to order earlier in the box below to get a message when question... Form the signature fan shape, they will puff up their feathers, fan out their,... To tell the males head knobs, known as toms, are known for their dominant behavior and aggressive displays... Aggressive mating displays about birds, learn about birds, learn about birds, their identification behaviour. Are small I ) are life long animal lovers and full time livestock in..., clucks and cuts is one of the reasons females tend to have a metallic sheen them! Turkeys for breeding purposes, hire a how to tell male from female turkey poults chicken sexer for help try incubating eggs? both of birds... Learn about birds, learn about birds, their identification, behaviour, facts and many more you see. In Ohio the body in shades of red, white, and gobble to attract and! The same for both males and females female birds learn turkey identification early, by tracing outlines of hands... Site, well share information from Glenn Bartley, our staff photographer and. Make Thanksgiving cards email in the U.S.: the Economic Impacts on National and Economies! Share information from Glenn Bartley, our staff photographer, and gobble to attract....