Is this a female Turkey? - NEW PICS & NEW TURKEYS!

[Cindyearl]

it's a Hen....A very nice looking Hen too...

 

[chicken pickin]

So whatever became of your 3 turkeys. What sex did they turn out to be?

 

[SonnyGirl]

I read this post a while ago! Interesting to see it back at the top! I agree about it likely being a hen. Even though it's snood, dewlap and caruncles are similar to the younger tom... she's 6 months old (or more now actually) and should have much bigger, fuller caruncles (I have a 3 month old jake right now and his caruncles and snood are way bigger)... also her legs are slender and her overall shape looks to be a female... just older than the other two. And yes - hens can strut, puff up, get red, etc. Is she often red like that?? Usually hens are NOT red in the face the majority of the time.. only when excited/mad or being defensive. Although - I do have a little jenny that is red a lot... she's the lowest on the totem pole though and in a constant defensive state of mind.

 

[TinaK]

I thought it wouldn't hurt to update this old post for future reference

And the answer issssss....

A BOY!

He is Tom Turkey after all! After a good few months of some serious strutting and a long snood that was quite 'manly' a beard has popped out from the centre of his chest! I don't think there is much doubt left that he is a HE!

As for the other 2 turkeys I had, one died shortly after I purchased it. It never looked great.... annoying thing is, I'd say it was a girl! The other one has developed into a nice young male (he looks to be a white turkey X with a sweetgrass or something similar!). So that now means I have 2 male turkeys! I have organised a nice girlfriend for Tom, but I need a new turkey pen before I bring her home

 

[TV]

The long snood is a good indicator, the beard not so much. My wild eastern hen has a beard and a nice set of spurs. All of her daughters grow beards also. Remember, all turkeys strut but only toms gobble. If it gobbles, it's a tom.

 

[TinaK]

Oh he gobbles that is for sure! If I yell out 'Turkey Turkey Turkey' from the back door step... I always get a good "Gobble Gobble' response from the back of the property!