when can you tell if a turkey is a girl or boy?

[jewels4710]

Bronze not even a week old yet.

 

[stephysteph11]

My Turkeys are about 9-10 weeks old now. I'm new to turkeys. And I'm absolutely in love. I'm also excited to know what I have. I know the big one is a tom, I have heard him gobble. Not sure with the smaller one. Though I have heard it make like a trilling noise, if that's how you want to describe it.

 

[Ashelton0123]

Male turkeys leave droppings in the shape of an "L" or "J".... Females leave a spiral pile.

This is actually true (although I’m not sure with small turkeys) in wild birds. My husband always asked if the poo has a hook at the top when we find any hunting!

 

[Maiahr]

Male turkeys leave droppings in the shape of an "L" or "J".... Females leave a spiral pile.

At what age?

 

[R2elk]

At what age?

They can start pretty young. I have found straight line droppings in the brooder at two weeks.

 

[Maiahr]

So males droppings are J and L shape, female - spherical.. ? I was not able to find that post from Celie on sexing turkeys... something to do with holding them on their backs and looking if they will fold their feet? I am going to test this now on my chicken whose gender I know for sure

 

[R2elk]

So males droppings are J and L shape, female - spherical.. ? I was not able to find that post from Celie on sexing turkeys... something to do with holding them on their backs and looking if they will fold their feet? I am going to test this now on my chicken whose gender I know for sure

Female droppings are not necessarily spherical so much as they are dropped in a pile.

@Celie 's post on sexing pooults.

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

Be sure to read her second post for clarification.

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

 

[StaciMarie0411]

I read a turkey raising book that said you can tell by looking at their eyes. The hens look nice and toms look mean-compared to one another. They have to be a few days old to notice a difference. It says if you don't see a difference you may be holding two of the same gender.
I got 3 bourbon reds with the hopes of 1 tom and 2 hens....we'll see how selections turn out!

How did it turn out?

 

[R2elk]

How did it turn out?

If you hover over the persons user name, a pop up will show you information about the poster.

Do not expect a reply from a poster that has not been on BYC since Oct. 22, 2015.

There is no validity to the suggestion that you can tell a turkey's gender by looking at its eyes.

 

[Huntmaster]

There is no validity to the suggestion that you can tell a turkey's gender by looking at its eyes.