Bearded lady turkeys

[Midvalekid]

I was tucking my turkeys in last night and noticed one of my turkey hens had a beard. I thought that was strange, so I checked the rest of them, and sure enough, three of the seven hens have beards. One is over two years old and somehow I never noticed it before. The other bearded ladies are 18 and 9 months old, but they are all three completely unrelated to each other. The beards are short yet, the longest one being about two inches and on my oldest gal. The other two beards are barely an inch but stick out when their feathers aren’t fluffed up. And they are all definitely ladies; the two older ones are mothers. So I’m wondering how common is this? It would make more sense to me if they were related, but since they’re all different breeds, I wonder if I’m doing something to cause this to happen? Somehow?? I am mystified.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Bearded hens aren't all that uncommon. I think 4 or 5 of my 12 hens have them.

 

[R2elk]

I was tucking my turkeys in last night and noticed one of my turkey hens had a beard. I thought that was strange, so I checked the rest of them, and sure enough, three of the seven hens have beards. One is over two years old and somehow I never noticed it before. The other bearded ladies are 18 and 9 months old, but they are all three completely unrelated to each other. The beards are short yet, the longest one being about two inches and on my oldest gal. The other two beards are barely an inch but stick out when their feathers aren’t fluffed up. And they are all definitely ladies; the two older ones are mothers. So I’m wondering how common is this? It would make more sense to me if they were related, but since they’re all different breeds, I wonder if I’m doing something to cause this to happen? Somehow?? I am mystified.

Two of the three I have had.

 

[Midvalekid]

Awesome! Thank you! Those are some beautiful ladies. I asked the one fellow turkey enthusiast friend I have if he’d ever had any bearded ladies and he said he’d had only one over several years. Everywhere else I’ve looked for answers makes it seem super rare. But I think it’s great and all my girls are beautiful!

 

[lena_]

Mine are only 6 weeks old, but I'd love to have 'bearded ladies!'

 

[R2elk]

Awesome! Thank you! Those are some beautiful ladies. I asked the one fellow turkey enthusiast friend I have if he’d ever had any bearded ladies and he said he’d had only one over several years. Everywhere else I’ve looked for answers makes it seem super rare. But I think it’s great and all my girls are beautiful!

Bearded hens are common enough that states that have hunting seasons for tom turkeys in the spring make the exception that bearded hens are legal to shoot.

 

[memphis]

Got one too...Bourbon Red.