is my turkey a male or female

[BOrion]

Your turkeys are old enough now to use the breast feather test.  The ones whose breast feathers have a light colored lower edge are hens.  The ones whose breast feathers do not have a light colored edge are toms.

Yes in a pair of two toms one that is not dominant may not strut at all.

Good luck.

 

[BOrion]

Ok. Thank you. Yep, he is a Tom. Appreciate the info. Now, can I keep two toms with two hens?

 

[R2elk]

Ok. Thank you. Yep, he is a Tom. Appreciate the info. Now, can I keep two toms with two hens?

You can but I don't recommend it. Toms are not in any way monogamous and often when in equal numbers to hens end up without any successful breeding happening. The tom that is not making the breeding attempt will normally attack the other tom and knock him off of the hen. This can even cause the hen to become injured.

Good luck.

 

[FaerieChicken]

The beard on a turkey is the black funky feather growing out of the center of the chest, both sexes can have them, but mostly toms do.

Oh, I think I seen it before, I just thought it was a funky feather that was due to fall off. I only seen it on 1 of the turkeys. When do they start growing them, otherwise, will the tom and hen spar?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I think they start coming in closer to a year of age, and I'm not sure if males and females will go at it, I've always had multiple of each sex and they will occasionally fight amongst themselves but I've not seen a hen and a Tom go at it, though I'm sure they might if it's only the two of them.