Determining the sex of young turkey poults can be tricky for beginner turkey keepers. Unlike adult turkeys that show obvious gender differences, poults look very similar when they first hatch. However, there are some subtle clues you can use to accurately sex poults that will hold true as they grow into mature toms and hens.
In this comprehensive guide, I’ll go over the failproof methods for accurately identifying male and female poults within the first few weeks of life. With the right technique, you’ll be able to separate your future breeders from the Thanksgiving dinner birds.
Why Is Sexing Poults Important?
Knowing the gender of your poults right from the start allows you to:
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House toms and hens separately to prevent early breeding.
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Avoid aggression issues since toms can be territorial even at a young age.
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Plan ahead for ideal turkey processing timeframes. Hens mature earlier than toms.
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Select the best specimens for breeding programs.
While you can certainly wait until secondary sex characteristics emerge, determining sex earlier provides advantages in managing your flock.
When Can You Start Identifying Gender?
The genital papillae, which are the basis of sexing poults, begin to develop between 2-6 weeks of age. However, these young structures are tiny and difficult to see.
I recommend waiting until poults are 6-8 weeks old before attempting to sex them. At this age, the genital region is more pronounced. Sexing accuracy improves greatly at this stage.
How to Sex 6-8 Week Old Poults
Here are the steps for accurately determining the sex of poults:
1. Hold the Poult Properly
Have an assistant gently cradle the poult on its back with the legs naturally splayed open. Make sure the poult is calm and secure to avoid injury.
Never dangle or harshly restrain poults when sexing them. This will cause unnecessary stress.
2. Locate the Vent
The vent is the opening on the belly between the legs where feces is excreted. It may be covered by small, downy feathers you’ll need to part gently.
3. Identify the Genital Papillae
Males will have two distinct round bumps protruding on either side of the vent in a Y-shape. These are the papillae that will develop into the male’s reproductive organs.
Females will have a single, small bump in the center of the vent. This will grow into the opening for passing eggs.
The photos below illustrate the clear differences:
[Insert images comparing male and female vent anatomy]
4. Confirm with Multiple Checks
Double-check your conclusion by examining at least 2-3 times. Go slow and be methodical. Rushing increases the chance of error.
5. Separate for Monitoring
Once sexed, house probable males and females in separate brooder areas. Mark them with leg bands to avoid mix-ups. Continuing observing development as they mature.
What Are Some Common Sexing Pitfalls?
Even experienced turkey owners can misidentify poults on occasion. Here are some key mistakes to avoid:
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Assuming size correlates to gender. Early on, poult size is not a reliable indicator.
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Not properly everting the vent area. The poults must be completely inverted to see the papillae.
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Viewing poults from the wrong angle. You must look directly underneath the vent.
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Relying on other characteristics like feathering speed and head shape. These are highly variable.
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Sexing poults too young or waiting too long. Stick to the 6-8 week prime window.
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Separating before confirming sex multiple times. Double-check, then separate into pens.
Confirming Sex as Poults Grow
Once separated after initial sexing, continue watching for development of gender-specific traits:
Males
- Longer legs
- Larger caruncles
- Aggressive dominance displays
- Courting behavior
- Tail fanning
Females
- Neater overall appearance
- Absence of male secondary sex traits
- Squatting posture when mounted
- Start laying eggs around 28-32 weeks old
Keep diligent records, and be prepared to move any surprise males or females discovered through maturation. Sexing poults takes practice, but pays off in the long run.
Have your own tried and true method for accurately sexing poults? Share your tips in the comments!
Things You Should Know
- Male turkeys have shinier feathers than female birds. They also have feathery “beards” on their chest, which females typically don’t have.
- Inspect the vent opening (located under the tail, between the birds legs) to determine the sex of baby turkeys.
- 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.
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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!
Tom or Hen Turkey Poult? How To Tell the Difference
FAQ
Do female turkeys have snood?
What do male turkeys do that female turkeys don t?