Determining the sex of turkeys can be tricky business. Male and female turkeys, known as toms and hens, have several distinguishing characteristics that can help you decipher their gender. With some close observation and knowledge of turkey anatomy, you’ll be able to accurately sex your birds.
Check for Feathers on the Head
One of the easiest ways to differentiate male from female turkeys is to look at the head. Hens will have feathers covering their heads, usually blue-grey in color. Their heads won’t be completely bald like a tom’s. If you see a turkey with no feathers on its head at all, it’s likely a male.
Inspect the Feathers
The feathers on a tom’s breast and body will have a metallic sheen that shimmers in the sunlight. Their feathers are shiny and iridescent whereas a hen’s feathers are more dull and brownish in color. Also look for white barring on the wings which indicates a male. Hens lack the vibrant, metallic feathers of the male.
Additionally, examine the tips of the feathers on the breast and sides. On a male, these feathers will have black tips. On a female, the tips are brown. This is one of the clearest ways to discern males from females.
Check for Leg Spurs
Male turkeys grow sharp spurs on their legs that females do not have Look at the back of the bird’s legs for pointed growths sticking out Mature toms will have spurs at least 1/2 inch long. Juvenile males may have smaller stubby spurs less than 1/2 inch long. The spurs help them fight other males during breeding season. If you don’t see any spurs at all, it’s likely a female.
Look for a Beard
Only male turkeys grow beards, which are plumage found on the breast. Examine the turkey’s chest for a hair-like cluster of feathers known as a beard. Most females lack beards entirely, making this feature a tell-tale sign of a male though some hens may grow small beards too. The beard gets longer as the tom matures.
Notice the Size Difference
Males tend to be much larger and heavier than females, with more massive bodies. Hens are generally 33-50% smaller than toms. If you see two turkeys side by side, the bigger one is probably the male. Males also have longer legs than females, which contributes to their larger stature.
Watch How They Walk
Observe how the turkey moves around. Males tend to strut with their chests puffed out and tails fanned, while females will not strut. Watch for a turkey spreading its tail into the shape of a fan and strutting around proudly – likely a sign of a tom. The male’s strutting and fanning behavior is most prominent during breeding season.
Listen for Gobbling
Only male turkeys are capable of gobbling, making loud calls to attract mates. If you hear a turkey gobbling loudly, you can rest assured it is a tom. The gobble call is unique to males. Though female turkeys may make other clucking, clicking, or yelping sounds, they do not gobble.
Examine Vent Shape
The vent is the opening under the tail where eggs or sperm exit the turkey’s body. On males, the vent is bumpy and convex in shape. On females, it is flat with no bump. Carefully examine the vent to determine the turkey’s sex.
Pick Up the Turkey
Here’s a trick you can try with young turkeys: Carefully pick up the poult, gently restraining its wings with one hand. Watch what happens with the legs. If the legs dangle down, it’s a female. If the legs pull up towards the body, it’s a male. Male poults instinctively draw their legs in when picked up.
Consider Time of Year
During spring mating season, the males will be displaying more conspicuous mating behaviors like strutting, gobbling, and fanning their tails. If you notice a turkey exhibiting this kind of conduct in the springtime, there’s a good chance it’s a male. The males are actively courting females and showing off during the breeding season.
Identifying male from female turkeys requires careful observation of physical characteristics and behavior. Look for differences in feathering, size, spurs, vents, and mating displays. With practice, you’ll be able to discriminate the toms from the hens quickly. Getting to know your flock will help you determine the gender of your birds.
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To sex a turkey, check to see if it has a beard of stiff feathers running down its chest, which will only be present on a male turkey. Alternatively, you can look at the color of the turkey’s feathers. If it has colorful feathers, its likely a male, but if it has brown or gray feathers, its probably a female. You can also watch to see if the turkey fans out its tail or makes gobbling noises, which only male turkeys do when theyre trying to display dominance. For more tips, like how to tell how old a turkey is, scroll down!
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- Question At what age can a baby turkey fly?
wikiHow Staff Editor Staff Answer This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow Staff Editor Staff Answer Baby turkeys grow really quickly and are able to fly when theyre as young as 8 to 10 days old. - Question What does a male wild turkey look like? wikiHow Staff Editor Staff Answer This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow Staff Editor Staff Answer Wild male turkeys are typically smaller and slimmer than domestic ones, but they share many of the same characteristics. For example, wild males have large tail fans, iridescent plumage, and the distinctive chest “beard” and snood on their faces.
- Question Do female turkeys puff up? wikiHow Staff Editor Staff Answer This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow Staff Editor Staff Answer While this behavior is usually associated with male turkeys, many people who keep turkeys report that females will also puff up. They’re especially inclined to do this if there are no males around, possibly as a way of establishing dominance in a group of hens.
- Young turkeys can be difficult to sex if you don’t have a lot of experience. If you need to sex turkeys for breeding purposes, hire a professional chicken sexer for help.[28] Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 1
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Tom or Hen Turkey Poult? How To Tell the Difference
FAQ
How can you tell if a turkey is male or female?
How to tell if a baby turkey is a tom or hen?
How to tell if a turkey is a gobbler?
How do you know if a Turkey is male or female?
Pick up a young turkey (or “poult”) and see if its legs lift up or dangle down. Female poults let their legs dangle, while male poults pull their legs up. Female turkeys have feathers on their head, while males don’t. Take a close look at the turkey’s head—are there feathers that cover the surface, or is the turkey completely bald?
How do male and female turkeys differ?
Male and female turkeys have distinct physical characteristics based on their gender, showing what’s called sexual dimorphism. Below are the main physical traits that help tell them apart. Male turkeys are generally larger than hens, typically measuring around 39 to 49 inches in length.
How do Turkey hens distinguish males from females?
Males’ feces can be distinguished from females’ due to its spiral shape. In spring, mature turkey hens determine the timing of breeding. Toms begin their cacophonous gobbling sounds, alerting other males and females. In addition to gobbling, toms make elaborate displays to attract females.
How do you tell the sex of a baby turkey?
There are a few ways to sex poults, but the most accurate way to tell the sex of a baby turkey should be done by an expert to avoid hurting the bird or injuring them. Accurately sexing baby turkeys, or poults is not considered to be a straightforward process.