Sexing turkey chicks ?

[kyron4]

I have two straight run bronze breasted turkey chicks about 5 weeks old. Is there a way to tell if they are male or female at that age ? -Thanks

 

[Mylied]

No, sorry. Turkeys are hard to sex at a young age. Eventually toms will get a longer snood and a more naked head than hens.

 

[kyron4]

Thanks, I wondered cause one has a bump on the base of the nose and the other doesn't. Wasn't sure if that meant anything,

 

[R2elk]

I have two straight run bronze breasted turkey chicks about 5 weeks old. Is there a way to tell if they are male or female at that age ? -Thanks

I am sure you mean Broad Breasted Bronze turkey poults. There is no such variety as Bronze Breasted and baby turkeys are poults.

For your amusement, you can try @Celie method of sexing turkey poults. Be sure to read her second post also for clarification.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/turkeys-for-2013.725829/page-276#post-11833820

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/turkeys-for-2013.725829/page-276#post-11836985

Thanks, I wondered cause one has a bump on the base of the nose and the other doesn't. Wasn't sure if that meant anything,

All turkeys will have a snood whether they are male or female. Adult males will develop the ability to greatly increase the size of their snoods to the point it may have 3" to 4" below the end of their beaks. Some people have made the claim that toms will have a bigger snood than hens even at a very early age. I have not been able to verify that claim.

 

[kyron4]

"I am sure you mean Broad Breasted Bronze turkey poults. There is no such variety as Bronze Breasted and baby turkeys are poults."

Yes, Broad Breasted Bronze turkey poults; been a long night lol

 

[small farm in texas]

I have two straight run bronze breasted turkey chicks about 5 weeks old. Is there a way to tell if they are male or female at that age ? -Thanks

I have had good luck with pick up the bird if feet are pulled up its male if the are hanging down its female, not beed wrong yet. good luck.

 

[small farm in texas]

Also males have a squared head.

 

[R2elk]

I have had good luck with pick up the bird if feet are pulled up its male if the are hanging down its female, not been wrong yet. good luck.

I have proven that this method is totally bogus and has no value in sexing turkey poults. If you have been right so far, it is only by luck. What usually happens is that people injure their poults by picking them up improperly.

 

[Cullen Bohannon]

The spur buds on the back of their legs will be more pronounced with a tom.. hens have the buds too so it is not 'fool-proof.. but with experience it is the best way I have found.