At what age and how can I sex my BSW?

[taraann81]

Hi guys. I have about a dozen BSW poults. They are about 8 weeks old. I was thinking about selling some but am terrified I will sell the wrong ones. I want to keep 3 hens and a tom but with my luck I feel like I will sell all of one sex and then not have what I wanted! At this point they all look exactly the same to me, I see no noticeable difference between any of them but perhaps I just don't know what I am looking for.

Thanks
Tara

 

[Harp Turkey Ranch]

to be 100% sure one must wait on those guys !! After they are 16-20 weeks old you should be able to tell 99% just by their looks.

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

At 8 weeks it's still hard to tell on the BSW's. Look for thicker legs - those will be toms. Overall bigger in size will be toms. At the age you have there won't be much difference in the snood, the toms will have bigger snood's and once they feather out will have little or no feathers on the head and neck. Do you have a chick about their size? Something of a different color works best. Put that in with them - the little toms will start to strut. That's not 100% as the hens can strut to, mark the ones that do it first and longest. That will give you a pretty good idea of who the toms are then you can look for other differences.

Steve in NC

 

[taraann81]

Quote:
Funny you mentioned that because completely by accident one of my rock bars got in with the poults this morning and I saw them strut for the first time. They certainly look hilarious! Thanks. I will wait longer before I sell any off.

Tara

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

Quote:
Funny you mentioned that because completely by accident one of my rock bars got in with the poults this morning and I saw them strut for the first time. They certainly look hilarious! Thanks. I will wait longer before I sell any off.

Tara

Mark the ones that strut and watch how long they do it, then look for the other differences, the legs, feathering on the head etc. All it takes is time and experience with them. Once you learn the behavior it gets much more easy.

Steve in NC

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

After they are 16-20 weeks old you should be able to tell 99% just by their looks.

How old are your BSW's? I thought you just hatched them out? Once you have them for awhile and gain experience you will be able to tell much sooner than 16 weeks.

Steve in NC​

 

[Harp Turkey Ranch]

How old are your BSW's? I thought you just hatched them out? Once you have them for awhile and gain experience you will be able to tell much sooner than 16 weeks.

Thanks Steve.

Mine are 13 weeks old and yes I have already gotten my 8 hens and 2 toms for next year. I was able to sex mine around 8-10 weeks old.

They are just the same as all the others seems to me. Nothing hard about it.

I was stating 16-20 weeks for the person asking. The average person can tell pretty much for sure at these ages.​

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

Quote:
Thanks Steve.

Mine are 13 weeks old and yes I have already gotten my 8 hens and 2 toms for next year. I was able to sex mine around 8-10 weeks old.

They are just the same as all the others seems to me. Nothing hard about it.

I was stating 16-20 weeks for the person asking. The average person can tell pretty much for sure at these ages.

So you have poults just a few weeks older than the OP asked about and your best advice was to wait 4 more weeks?

The average person can tell pretty much for sure at these ages.

The average person is here asking for answers and would like any insight an experienced person could offer. JMHO

Steve in NC​

 

[Harp Turkey Ranch]

The average person is here asking for answers and would like any insight an experienced person could offer.

yup and that is what I offered. That seems to be the sure fire way of doing it, and after one gains a few years of raising them they should get it down at an earlier age.

Thanks again for your humble bashing Steve !!​