I see this topic a lot about turkeys.
People ask about sexing poults anywhere from 5 weeks to 15 from what I see based on behavior and physical appearance.
I’ve recently learned that hens can display/ fan out and especially when they’re from the 2 to 5 week range in my experience. There was a time I thought 7 of my 8 poults were Toms.
At 8 weeks, I have four that no longer display, they didn’t lose their head feathers, and they don’t gooble. Most are the smaller ones. But one is good size. They do have more delicate looking legs and feet. I assume these are my hens.
Now, as for my big boys, they turn bright red (like a fire engine), spit, drum, fan out, and strut to impress me it seems. And the more I “encourage” them by telling them “pretty boy" in a soft approving tone, and pet them, the more they get going. If I put my hands out, palms up, they jump in my hands and roost on my arms and just lay there. They're too big for me to stand and hold them anymore (and no, they're not pleasing themselves. I have had so many people ask me if they try to "hump" on me. Do they actually do that? If so, how does one break that habit? I've yet to have that happen thankfully.) Also, these four have almost bald hearts- with the exception of a very narrow mohawk, and snoods that hang down their beak.
Anyway, I presume these are Toms. Am I correct in thinking that:
1) Hens and Toms both fan out/ strut - especially when they're in the two to five week range?
2) hens are a little more delicate, especially in legs and feet?
3) ONLY toms strut while spitting, turning red, ext?
4) ONLY toms gobble?
5) late developing toms can have a mohawk, even if it's not common, but if other male specific traits are all present youre safe to assume they're male?
And bonus questions:
6) are Toms usually more outgoing with humans?
7) do toms REALLY try to "hump" humans and other things like basketballs like I've heard or is that a sick rumor?
7A) if they do, how do you break that habit in a hurry? (All I know is the day one of my toms humps my leg we have an issue
)
Thanks for the help!
People ask about sexing poults anywhere from 5 weeks to 15 from what I see based on behavior and physical appearance.
I’ve recently learned that hens can display/ fan out and especially when they’re from the 2 to 5 week range in my experience. There was a time I thought 7 of my 8 poults were Toms.
At 8 weeks, I have four that no longer display, they didn’t lose their head feathers, and they don’t gooble. Most are the smaller ones. But one is good size. They do have more delicate looking legs and feet. I assume these are my hens.
Now, as for my big boys, they turn bright red (like a fire engine), spit, drum, fan out, and strut to impress me it seems. And the more I “encourage” them by telling them “pretty boy" in a soft approving tone, and pet them, the more they get going. If I put my hands out, palms up, they jump in my hands and roost on my arms and just lay there. They're too big for me to stand and hold them anymore (and no, they're not pleasing themselves. I have had so many people ask me if they try to "hump" on me. Do they actually do that? If so, how does one break that habit? I've yet to have that happen thankfully.) Also, these four have almost bald hearts- with the exception of a very narrow mohawk, and snoods that hang down their beak.
Anyway, I presume these are Toms. Am I correct in thinking that:
1) Hens and Toms both fan out/ strut - especially when they're in the two to five week range?
2) hens are a little more delicate, especially in legs and feet?
3) ONLY toms strut while spitting, turning red, ext?
4) ONLY toms gobble?
5) late developing toms can have a mohawk, even if it's not common, but if other male specific traits are all present youre safe to assume they're male?
And bonus questions:
6) are Toms usually more outgoing with humans?
7) do toms REALLY try to "hump" humans and other things like basketballs like I've heard or is that a sick rumor?
7A) if they do, how do you break that habit in a hurry? (All I know is the day one of my toms humps my leg we have an issue
)Thanks for the help!
I have a super sweet blue palm that is very polite when asking to get lucky with me lol. I press my hand under his breast then he does the sexy stompy dance with the butt squeaks
