Hen?

[NHdeerhunter]

hi all. I have 3 turkey turks that are 11 weeks old. All mixes (bronze tom, black Spanish hens, bronze/Narragansett hens). 1 poult has black Spanish plumage. 1 has bronze and 1 has Narragansett. Are these new breast feathers the final color which would tell me this is a hen? Or will black tip feathers possibly come in later?

 

[R2elk]

hi all. I have 3 turkey turks that are 11 weeks old. All mixes (bronze tom, black Spanish hens, bronze/Narragansett hens). 1 poult has black Spanish plumage. 1 has bronze and 1 has Narragansett. Are these new breast feathers the final color which would tell me this is a hen? Or will black tip feathers possibly come in later?

The breast feather indicator will work on a Bronze or a Black but it will not work on a Narragansett because of the color patterns on the feathers of both the toms and hens. I am seeing both light colored lower edges and dark colored lower edges on the feathers in your photo which makes me think that it may not yet have its adult feathers.

 

[NHdeerhunter]

It works on a black as well?

 

[R2elk]

It works on a black as well?

It should, since it is supposed to work on any turkey with dark colored feathers. It won't work on white/light colored turkeys or turkeys that have feathers that are not a solid color such as a Narragansett. I know that it definitely works on Bourbon Reds and Chocolates. For me it is very difficult to notice the light colored edges on Slate hens but I can see the lack of light colored edges on Slate toms.

 

[NHdeerhunter]

Interesting. I didn't realize it worked with solid birds as well