How to determine Male or Female?

[dalmation1080]

I can sex chickens and ducks all day long, but how do you tell toms from hens? I have three white turkeys and I dont know how to tell.

 

[GitaBooks]

Males develop beards (though a very small number of females may as well). Hens have narrower legs, toms have less feathers on their head. I hope this helps: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/87863/how-long-does-it-take-to-tell-a-female-turkey-from-a-male

Best of luck!

 

[serama girl]

Also, if you lay them on their back in your hand, you can tell by their legs. If they raise both legs up, it is a male, and and if they only lift up 1 leg it is a female.

 

[R2elk]

Also, if you lay them on their back in your hand, you can tell by their legs. If they raise both legs up, it is a male, and and if they only lift up 1 leg it is a female.

Almost right. This is only an indication and is not 100% proof. The hens will bring both legs up to their chest while a tom may kick or hold one or both legs back or up but will very rarely bring both legs up to its chest.

 

[serama girl]

Almost right. This is only an indication and is not 100% proof. The hens will bring both legs up to their chest while a tom may kick or hold one or both legs back or up but will very rarely bring both legs up to its chest.

Correct, it is not 100% accurate, but it gives you a general idea. Out of the 4 poults that I had done this to, 3 of them were what they appeared to be when doing this indication.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

When there heads start going bald, hens will keep a line of small feathers going up the back of the head, toms don't, the Tom will have a larger snood, and sometimes larger looking eyes, you'll see more carnacles developed at the base of the neck, and usually more color to the head, and if your lucky they will display at a young age, which is adorable

 

[Connie G]

When there heads start going bald, hens will keep a line of small feathers going up the back of the head, toms don't, the Tom will have a larger snood, and sometimes larger looking eyes, you'll see more carnacles developed at the base of the neck, and usually more color to the head, and if your lucky they will display at a young age, which is adorable

By "display" , are you referring to spreading out their tail feathers? Do only makes so that?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Females will display sometimes, but only when they are older, seems to be some sort of dominance thing, or when they are really excited, seems they do it for other hens, and displaying in young turkeys usually involves spreading their wings down and pulling their neck tight, most don't have tail feathers yet