Are we still sure this is a hen?

[R2elk]

How common is it for hens to have beards?

I currently have three of my six adult hens that have beards. It is common enough in the wild that all states that have Spring turkey season (toms only season) include the waiver that bearded hens are legal to take.

 

[casportpony]

I ask because looking through some of my pictures I found one of my BBW hen and she had a long beard!

 

[casportpony]

what @R2elk told me was that hens will have this strip of feathers up the backside of their neck:

@R2elk , do all hens have this?

 

[R2elk]

what @R2elk told me was that hens will have this strip of feathers up the backside of their neck:
View attachment 1537506

@R2elk , do all hens have this?

Yes but it is also an age thing and can be more pronounced in some than in others. Young toms and late developing toms as they develop will lose all their head feathers but they often show other male traits before they have completely gone bald.

 

[casportpony]

I can count the number of turkeys I've owned on two hands, lol.

 

[Noellereagan]

 

[Noellereagan]

No beard button. But my four for sure Toms have beard buttons.

 

[casportpony]

are the two in this picture the same age?

 

[Fluffy&Cutie]

i love a good bet.

 

[TurkeyTimes]

No beard button. But my four for sure Toms have beard buttons.

No beard, not a tom I have at least 6 bearded hens.