Should I choose male or female chicks?

[zowieyellowflame]

Hi there,
I am getting 6 turkey chicks for the first time ever! They will be 2 weeks old when I get them. Apparently I get to choose if I want males or females if I get there early. Which do I want? I know that males grow faster, but they eat more food.
Also, will the males fight each other? They will be slaughtered likely at 14 weeks.
Will the meat be the same as females?
Thanks

 

[babylotzahenz]

I'll let a turkey expert give you a real answer, but the males are MUCH bigger than the females in the Royal Palms and Nargansettes. I butchered some at about that age and there was a big difference. My males are much friendlier and do NOT fight much except during early spring when the females entice them to. The generally get along well if raised together. Unlike roosters, their fights are not quite as bad, they just seem to lock heads and go in circles, but not until they are mature. At 14 weeks, mine were very immature. Maybe you could choose half and half? What breed are they?

 

[zowieyellowflame]

This time, I am just doing the big white ones.

 

[Lagerdogger]

They won't fight, well maybe just a little but it won't matter. The males will get a little bigger and eat a little more food, so a mix is nice so you can have different sized turkeys. How are they going to tell them apart at 2 weeks old?

 

[ColbyNTX]

You really can't sex a poult at 2 weeks and even at 14 weeks, a BBW will still be a little small to slaughter. With good genetics and feed, it will be 4-6 months to be ready.