What is a Female Turkey Called?

Turkeys are a distinctive bird species native to North America that have become a popular form of poultry. The males and females have distinct names based on their age and sex. But what exactly is the female turkey called?

Female turkeys have two different names depending on their age. An adult female turkey is called a hen, while a young female is called a jenny. Let’s take a closer look at the names and characteristics of female turkeys.

Adult Female Turkeys: Hens

• An adult female turkey is called a hen,

• Hens are smaller and less colorful than male turkeys. They have duller, brownish plumage compared to the iridescent feathers of a male.

• On average, hens are about half the size of tom turkeys. They weigh 8-12 pounds and have a length of around 36 inches.

• Hens lack the long beard feathers and fleshy wattles that distinguish male turkeys. Their wattles and snoods are much smaller.

• You can identify a hen by the light brown tipped feathers on her breast, compared to the black tipped feathers of a male.

• Hens do not make the distinctive gobbling sound of males. They cluck softly to communicate with poults and other hens.

• Hens nest on the ground, laying clutches of 4-17 eggs. They incubate the eggs and raise the poults without assistance from males.

Young Female Turkeys: Jennies

• A young female turkey under 1 year old is called a jenny.

• It can be difficult to determine the gender of poults and young turkeys. Jennies look very similar to young males (jakes).

• Examine the vent beneath the tail to identify gender in poults. A bumpy vent indicates a male poult.

• Pick up the chick to see if it pulls its legs in (male) or dangles them (female). Males tuck in their legs more.

• Watch for signs of aggression. Male poults tend to act more territorial and aggressive toward companions.

• Listen for vocalizations. Young males may start practicing their gobbles, while females chip and purr.

Identifying Male vs. Female Turkeys

While jennies and jakes appear similar at first, some distinguishing traits emerge with maturity:

• Size – Hens reach just 35 inches long and 12 pounds, while toms can exceed 48 inches and 25 pounds.

• Plumage – Hens have brown-tipped feathers and lack a breast beard. Toms have black-tipped feathers and a prominent beard.

• Head – Hens have some head feathers. Toms are completely bald with fleshy caruncles and wattles.

• Behaviors – Hens cluck softly and care for poults. Toms gobble loudly and display aggressively.

Why the Names Hen and Tom?

The terms “hen” and “tom” are commonly used to distinguish female and male birds of many species, including chickens, turkeys, grouse, pheasants, and others.

But where did these colorful names come from?

Hen likely derives from the Old English term “henn”, meaning a female bird. It dates back to around the 12th century.

Tom has murkier origins but may refer to the male bird’s masculinity and dominance. Some sources suggest it refers to the male’s propensity to “tom” or strut about boldly.

Whatever the exact origins, these traditional names have endured when referring to male and female turkeys. The terms are ingrained in poultry and birding terminology.