Sexing a turkey

[resthavenfarms]

Oma, I was thinking the same thing, that it's old enough and looks "hennish" enough, but again, I defer to experts, I don't know much about turkeys.

 

[resthavenfarms]

Anyone?

Also, I'll ask again. At what age do turkeys typically start growing a beard, and gobbling?

This particular turkey started making a high pitched chirping sound today--I thought I heard that was a female noise, is that correct?

I saw a couple of other bourbon reds this weekend (may actually go purchase some, because they need some TLC) and it didn't really give me too much insight. The hens were about the same size as mine and a couple similar, one had a huge fat snood but a lot of "hairs" on the head. They were like 1 1/2 years old. Is there always so much variety in turkey appearance in a single breed?

 

[ivan3]

Our jakes started gobbling at about three months. Their beards started to extend beyond the contour feathers of their chests at 11 months.

When you've observed the `strutting' behavior did it extend the rectrices fully/perpendicular to the ground/for more than a minute? Hens seem to prefer rectrices at about 45° when hassling and fully unfurled and parallel to the ground when trying `look big' when there is a predator about.

There can be considerable variation between individuals in a specific variety. Certain changes also take place owing to domestication (more bearded hens - all varieties - for example).

 

[resthavenfarms]

Ivan, I really don't know, I didn't pay much attention. I don't think it was more than a minute? and it has only been a couple of mornings when letting them all out of the coop. Turkey will follow me around chatting at me and will strut but it's usually pretty short-lived, and has happened probably 5-6 times total.

 

[resthavenfarms]

I will say that after seeing a couple of 7 month old jakes today at a friend's, I am pretty sure I have a female unless it's just super late developing. It's snood is tiny and it's pretty pale compared to those flirty boys.

 

[ivan3]

Try whistling a tune. It could be my own pitch/tone that sets off the toms but this always causes them to gobble (my execrable singing is ignored).
Have someone drop by that the turk has never seen before (this seems to trigger the `kill it or mate it' response in males).

I'd guess male from the distinct development of the caruncles, but we've got a crowing, well spurred Red Sex Link hen so I make no hypotheses as a rule

Male turkeys have specialized muscles at the base of the tail (lactic acid buildup isn't an issue) so they can maintain the display for extended periods. Wing tips, during strut. should also be dragging the ground.

 

[resthavenfarms]

Any loud noise causes this turkey to yelp/cluck and it follows me around purring, no gobble yet. I am really okay either way with whatever sex this turkey is, but I don't know enough about them to really speculate. There are feathers growing back up the back of the head also, but I'll agree with you on the caruncles. I don't think it knows a stranger, it will politely approach anyone who comes to the house and purr at them. It also will squat or sit down beside me if I sit on the porch or if I reach down to touch it. Does that mean anything in turkey language?

 

[ivan3]

Our jakes were displaying with as much intimidation as they could chuff themselves up to deliver when `unknowns' showed up, by that age.

If your turk is hunkering down as illustrated below, then is probably a jenny:

ed:sp

 

[resthavenfarms]

Ivan, Yes, that's what this turkey does. It seems to enjoy attention and will sit beside me for a long time.

 

[medan]

looks like a bourbon red hen if its 6 months or older I am pretty sure its a hen the toms have a black edgeing to the back feathers and hens dont they all change head color due to mood or instinct and a tom will be quite a bit larger then a hen I have 4 bourbon red hens and i am almost positive thats a hen