Sex, age, and breed identification. And Free ranging.

[Uly235]

My question is regarding what the possible breed, sex, age is on these turkeys. I figure I have a black, blue slate, though the rest not to sure especially the grey looking one, possibly crosses. I purchased them in June, early june, from a man saying they were eight weeks but looked much younger, and now I figure they are something like 3 months old. Im not good with sexing either but assume three or 4 males?

My last question is regarding free ranging, I free range them completely because they stay close, much to close, Closer than chickens and wonder if there is a way to encourage free ranging. I have about 3 acres and woods behind but small wooded area mostly for 4 wheeler's and abandoned farms with open fields, its pretty safe. I have tried carrying them two at a time-considering how big they are-into the woods but not to far they get lost though I think turkeys have a good sense of direction. The always come right back waiting for food, I try taking their food away but they steal from the chickens or roam far into the neighbors yard but never out back. There are so many goodies for them out there but they never go far, to the point when I free range them they jump in the run as if they prefer to be enclosed. They eat a dam lot also, which is good but i want they to have all they can have out back and around, except for neighbors yard. Maybe they are still to young? Thanks

BTW only 5 of them.

 

[maidenwolfx80]

Really need some closer pics to tell sex and breed really . They grey/silver with black and bronze is a narragansett the others may be bronze turkeys and yes a blue slate and a black spanish.. With turkeys they want to stay close just like chickens you cant force them to go anywhere they dont feel comfortable or safe. Whether you want them to wander or not your not going to be able to force it upon them. They need confidence and to be in a stress free environment before they will feel safe to forage further. Turkeys will eat alot,, they are bigger birds!!

 

[frank53061]

I agree there needs to be more glamor head shots to tell if male or female

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[Chambertin]

Here's my guess on sex, about all I'm good for. (Other than poo)
First picture the: Dark one with the head up is a male. Good carnucles and can see the snood at that range unflushed. Brown one next to him maybe male, good color and can see skin. Head up whitey possibly female.
Second picture: The brownish one with the tail up also looks male, good carnucles and snood. Whitey still looks like a girl, high neck feathers and no real snood. Dark one next to the tail guy... Hard to tell but lots of skin looks male.
Third picture: Cant see anyone's head
Fourth picture: The close one with the neck showing still looks like a boy. The rest cant be seen enough to guess.
Last picture: Brownie still looks male and Whitey still looks female.

So looks like 2 brown males, 1 white female, 1 dont really know brown and the black one never shows enough.

Edit: Age, unsure as there's no real object to compare size to. I'd guess 3 months or so.

As far as ranging I wish I could help, but my "range" is a 20 sq foot terrace on the top of an apartment building...
Even with good jumps and good wings they dont even seem to show the desire to jump up on the railing, let alone over the edge.

 

[ColbyNTX]

Don't worry about them staying close to the house. As they get older you will be posting about how can I get them to stay closer to the house! The woods are not a safe place for domestic turkeys. Lots of critters waiting to eat them and they do. This is why I keep Great Pyrenees dogs but will still loose a bird every so often. The pics are not the best but in your 1st pic from left to right, looks like 2 bronze toms, blue slate hen, black hen and golden narraganset tom.

 

[Lagerdogger]

The pictures are tough. I think the one in the middle of the fourth shot is a red bronze, but the color is not great. The other two unidentifieds could both be narragansett, but again, hard to tell from these shots. A well lit close-up showing each bird in profile would help things out.

 

[Moochie]

Your blue slate is a hen. I can't really tell from the rest but I think see some toms in there.

 

[frank53061]

Don't worry about them staying close to the house. As they get older you will be posting about how can I get them to stay closer to the house! The woods are not a safe place for domestic turkeys. Lots of critters waiting to eat them and they do. This is why I keep Great Pyrenees dogs but will still loose a bird every so often. The pics are not the best but in your 1st pic from left to right, looks like 2 bronze toms, blue slate hen, black hen and golden narraganset tom.

I agree with ColbyNTX there are predictors of all kinds that would love a Turkey dinner I have put to much time effort and money into my Turkeys to chance feeding them to the local wild life.