\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. Inspect the vent opening (located under the tail, between the bird's legs) to determine the sex of baby turkeys. Male turkey feathers have a metallic sheen to them in the Have a group of turkey poults on your hands? Her goal is to share the most interesting and useful facts about them. } Both males and females are 24 to 36 inches long with a wingspan of 26 to 30 inches. Male turkeys are much larger and have more elaborate plumage. His radio show is heard on over 200 stations across the United States. Check the beard. Turkeys possess excellent sight but poor senses of smell and taste. } Telling the difference between a male or female juvenile turkey is like adult turkeys. To play, simply call out the name of a bird instead of a number. 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. }()). Female turkeys generally have smooth, spur-free legs. You can call female turkey as a hen, male as gobbler or tom, young ones as chick, poult or turkeylings. If you are selecting for female poults, do just the opposite. The females will softly cluck or yelp (but they generally dont gobble). The focus will not always be about birds, but they will never be far away. Determining the sex of a turkey can be a bit challenging but with some basic information, it becomes quite easy. Two were hens. And the males wattles will be slightly larger, thicker, and wider spread. Since raising your own Hey there, Im Kathy! Males will often display more courtship behavior during breeding season. Subordinate males can assist their dominant brothers in mating, but only dominant males will sire poults (babies). I used to think I could sex my turkeys at a very young age. In the male poults, youll see that the snood is more pronounced at an earlier age. Can I determine the gender of a turkey by its comb or snood color? Turkeys do not mate for life, they dont even choose one partner for one season and mate with multiple individuals. Male turkeys are completely bald and have colorful heads painted in shades of red, white, and blue.

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