Please, solve this gender confusion? I change my mind daily!!!

[DarkWater1929]

I just love my turkeys! They are the dearest creatures! Both hatched this spring, 2017. With regard to each, I keep doubting myself concerning their gender! I am not turkey Savvy. I sure could use the input of those of you who are! Several people, in agreement, would put the issue to rest for me. Thank you SO MUCH!

PATIENCE

I an sorry if there are duplicates. This has changed since last I posted photos.

Also, if you will please tell me why you think one way or the other, I will appreciate it! That way, I can begin to learn what to look for in turkeys.

Again, thank you so much for your time!

 

[R2elk]

I just love my turkeys! They are the dearest creatures! Both hatched this spring, 2017. With regard to each, I keep doubting myself concerning their gender! I am not turkey Savvy. I sure could use the input of those of you who are! Several people, in agreement, would put the issue to rest for me. Thank you SO MUCH!

Also, if you will please tell me why you think one way or the other, I will appreciate it! That way, I can begin to learn what to look for in turkeys.

Again, thank you so much for your time!

When posting photos for tom/hen identity, it is helpful to post a whole side view, a view looking down at the top of the head and a view from directly in front of the turkey. It is also helpful to post photos that are in focus. A number of your photos are suffering from motion blur and are not helpful for identification purposes. Use a faster shutter speed or use a flash to eliminate the motion blur.

Your larger turkey is a tom.
1 - bald head
2 - much larger size
3 - much heavier legs
4 - retracted snood forms a cone. Some hens can also have their snood form a cone but for the most part a hen's snood retains its horizontal J shape
5 - If you check the breast feathers of your larger bird, you will find that the bottom edges of his breast feathers are dark. Dark colored hens will have light colored lower edges on their breast feathers. This only works on turkeys that have their mature breast feathers and only on dark colored birds.

Your smaller turkey is probably a hen
1 - appears to have a "mohawk" of feathers up the back of her neck and on top of her head.
2 - much smaller size
3 - dainty hen like legs
4 - snood has a horizontal J shape
5 - not a solid color dark feathered bird so the breast feather indicator will not work on it.

 

[DarkWater1929]

When posting photos for tom/hen identity, it is helpful to post a whole side view, a view looking down at the top of the head and a view from directly in front of the turkey. It is also helpful to post photos that are in focus. A number of your photos are suffering from motion blur and are not helpful for identification purposes. Use a faster shutter speed or use a flash to eliminate the motion blur.

Your larger turkey is a tom.
1 - bald head
2 - much larger size
3 - much heavier legs
4 - retracted snood forms a cone. Some hens can also have their snood form a cone but for the most part a hen's snood retains its horizontal J shape
5 - If you check the breast feathers of your larger bird, you will find that the bottom edges of his breast feathers are dark. Dark colored hens will have light colored lower edges on their breast feathers. This only works on turkeys that have their mature breast feathers and only on dark colored birds.

Your smaller turkey is probably a hen
1 - appears to have a "mohawk" of feathers up the back of her neck and on top of her head.
2 - much smaller size
3 - dainty hen like legs
4 - snood has a horizontal J shape
5 - not a solid color dark feathered bird so the breast feather indicator will not work on it.

 

[DarkWater1929]

When posting photos for tom/hen identity, it is helpful to post a whole side view, a view looking down at the top of the head ...."=QUOTE]

Thank you so much! That is just the sort of info I had been hoping for. I am sorry about the photos. I am afraid that all I have to work with is my phone camera. Sadly, I had thought they were pretty clear. But then, I only have my phone to view them through, so subtleties may be lost to me. I will work on Santa a bit harder.

Thank you again!