What are the odds? (Hen question)

[Skipper7410]

I have 7 RP turkeys. As of today it would appear as though they all gobble....usually one goes off and then they all gobble together...1 was bought from a feed store and 6 from a lady in idaho and we chased them around and grabbed them at random. Am i that unlucky that i have all toms, or will hens mimick/gobble themselves sometimes? Ive never heard a wild hen gobble (i know they strut) thanks guys.

 

[ChickNanny13]

@R2elk

 

[R2elk]

I have 7 RP turkeys. As of today it would appear as though they all gobble....usually one goes off and then they all gobble together...1 was bought from a feed store and 6 from a lady in idaho and we chased them around and grabbed them at random. Am i that unlucky that i have all toms, or will hens mimick/gobble themselves sometimes? Ive never heard a wild hen gobble (i know they strut) thanks guys.

It can happen that you ended up with all toms. I hatched out 8 guinea eggs one time and got 7 males and 1 hen.

Normal is about 50% toms and hens hatch but that can be over the course of a full season. Individual batches can be really skewed one way or the other.

Random capture can also lead to bad results. I have in the past unknowingly picked out all female guinea keets for a buyer and ended up with all male keets left for myself.

I have read claims of hens gobbling but have never actually heard a hen gobble. Strut and grow a beard, yes but no gobbling.

 

[blackandtan]

When they were little most of my hens have tried gobbling when their brothers are learning to, it tapers off after awhile but it’s pretty cute

 

[Skipper7410]

It can happen that you ended up with all toms. I hatched out 8 guinea eggs one time and got 7 males and 1 hen.

Normal is about 50% toms and hens hatch but that can be over the course of a full season. Individual batches can be really skewed one way or the other.

Random capture can also lead to bad results. I have in the past unknowingly picked out all female guinea keets for a buyer and ended up with all male keets left for myself.

I have read claims of hens gobbling but have never actually heard a hen gobble. Strut and grow a beard, yes but no gobbling.

Well i was hoping for a breeding pair this season but not looking good lol. Worst case looks like a got enough birds to get through a thanksgiving...or 2..

Edit: phone typing haha

 

[R2elk]

Well i was hoping for a breeding pair this season but not looking good lol. Worst case looks like a got enough birds to get through a thanksgiving...or 2..

Edit: phone typing haha

I do not recommend keeping a breeding pair. One hen to one tom can be very hard on the hen. I try to keep at least 4 to 5 hens for one tom.

 

[Skipper7410]

I do not recommend keeping a breeding pair. One hen to one tom can be very hard on the hen. I try to keep at least 4 to 5 hens for one tom.

I guess the tom probably beats up the hen pretty good? I will definitely make sure to get a few hens if thats the case

 

[Skipper7410]

When they were little most of my hens have tried gobbling when their brothers are learning to, it tapers off after awhile but it’s pretty cute

Out of the seven, two of them seem to gobble way off haha so im hoping maybe those two end up as hens....crossing my fingers lol

 

[ChickNanny13]

Thank you @R2elk