How early were you able to tell the sex of your poults?

[hysop]

I’m new to turkeys and poults. I know with guineafowl I couldn’t tell until they were 6 months old. Will it be the same with turkeys?

I really want to know. It won’t make a difference if they’re male or female but it’s part of the fun to me

Mine are only 2 weeks old so definitely won’t be able to tell right now.

 

[R2elk]

I’m new to turkeys and poults. I know with guineafowl I couldn’t tell until they were 6 months old. Will it be the same with turkeys?

I really want to know. It won’t make a difference if they’re male or female but it’s part of the fun to me

Mine are only 2 weeks old so definitely won’t be able to tell right now.

When I am closely observing the poults, I have been able to correctly sex some within the first week after they have hatched. I cannot describe what I am watching and why I decided the sex but I have been as successful as 100% at times.

For fun you can try @Celie 's method. I have had 100% success using her method and 100% failure using her method.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/turkeys-for-2013.725829/page-276#post-11833820

For clarification, be sure to read her follow up post.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/turkeys-for-2013.725829/page-276#post-11836985

Observing my own poults, I am very confident of their sex by the time they are 2 months old. For identifying the sex of poults from a posted photo, they need to be at least 3 months old and definitely by 6 months old.

To post photos for sex identification it is appropriate to post a full frontal view, a full side view and a shot from behind looking down at an angle to show the back of the neck and top of the head.

Blurry pics that are out of focus or have motion blur due to camera shake or animal movement have no value.

 

[hysop]

When I am closely observing the poults, I have been able to correctly sex some within the first week after they have hatched. I cannot describe what I am watching and why I decided the sex but I have been as successful as 100% at times.

For fun you can try @Celie 's method. I have had 100% success using her method and 100% failure using her method.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/turkeys-for-2013.725829/page-276#post-11833820

For clarification, be sure to read her follow up post.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/turkeys-for-2013.725829/page-276#post-11836985

Observing my own poults, I am very confident of their sex by the time they are 2 months old. For identifying the sex of poults from a posted photo, they need to be at least 3 months old and definitely by 6 months old.

To post photos for sex identification it is appropriate to post a full frontal view, a full side view and a shot from behind looking down at an angle to show the back of the neck and top of the head.

Blurry pics that are out of focus or have motion blur due to camera shake or animal movement have no value.

Thanks so much I will be reading those posts now in 3 months if I can’t tell on my own if they’re boys or girls I’ll try to get clear pics to share on here.

 

[R2elk]

Thanks so much I will be reading those posts now in 3 months if I can’t tell on my own if they’re boys or girls I’ll try to get clear pics to share on here.

It is always easier when you do have both sexes. It can be very difficult to tell if you happen to only have one of the sexes. (Yes it does happen)

 

[hysop]

It is always easier when you do have both sexes. It can be very difficult to tell if you happen to only have one of the sexes. (Yes it does happen)

I’m hoping I have at least one of each since my plan is to keep some to hatch their eggs next year but I also want to eat one or two by the end of the year. I have 6 poults. So if I end up with all males or all females imma go play the lottery lol jk

 

[R2elk]

I’m hoping I have at least one of each since my plan is to keep some to hatch their eggs next year but I also want to eat one or two by the end of the year. I have 6 poults. So if I end up with all males or all females imma go play the lottery lol jk

It really isn't a good idea to keep a pair. If you have broad breasted turkeys, it isn't a good idea to keep any of them.

I try to keep at least 4 to 5 hens for one tom. It makes it so much easier on the hens if there are more of them to keep the tom occupied.

 

[hysop]

It really isn't a good idea to keep a pair. If you have broad breasted turkeys, it isn't a good idea to keep any of them.

I try to keep at least 4 to 5 hens for one tom. It makes it so much easier on the hens if there are more of them to keep the tom occupied.

They’re standard (heritage?) bronze poults. No broad-breasted since I don’t care for artificial insemination. I’m hoping I have at least 3 hens to 1 tom, but if for some weird reason I end up with 5 toms and 1 hen then I may just have to do 1-1 til I get more hens next year.