For many people purchasing a turkey, especially around the holidays, one of the common questions is – what is the difference between a hen and a tom turkey? While both hens and toms belong to the same species, there are some key physical and behavioral differences between these two types of turkeys.
Size Differences
The most noticeable difference between hen and tom turkeys is in their size Tom turkeys are substantially larger than hen turkeys. An adult tom can weigh between 16 to 40 pounds on average, compared to 8 to 16 pounds for a mature hen
Toms tend to be much taller and bulkier with a more massive frame and build compared to hens. The male turkeys have larger bones, meatier breasts, and thicker legs. Their larger size is due to differences in reproductive anatomy and hormones.
Plumage and Features
There are some distinct differences in plumage and physical features between tom and hen turkeys
-
Toms have more colorful and iridescent feathers, especially in the tail and wing areas Their tail feathers are longer and more fanned out
-
Toms develop spurs on their legs starting at 4-5 months old. Hens lack spurs.
-
Toms have larger caruncles (fleshy nodules) on their necks and heads. Their heads are redder and bluer.
-
Toms have longer beards. While some hens may develop small beards, toms have more pronounced beards.
-
Toms have larger snoods that elongate during courtship displays. Hens have tiny snoods in comparison.
Behavioral Differences
There are some characteristic differences in the behavior of tom and hen turkeys:
-
Toms are much more aggressive, territorial and competitive, especially during mating season. They often fight over hens.
-
Toms perform elaborate mating displays, puffing up feathers, spreading tail fans, dragging wings and ‘strutting’. Hens do not strut.
-
Toms make the characteristic ‘gobbling’ sound. Hens make clicking, purring and yelping sounds.
-
Toms form groups called bachelor flocks outside breeding season. Hens nest and raise poults.
Flavor Differences
Due to differences in size, development and activity, the meat of hens and toms can vary in flavor:
-
Tom meat tends to have a more robust, gamy and rich flavor compared to hen meat.
-
Hen meat is usually more mild, delicate and tender.
-
Tom breast meat is slightly darker while hen breast meat is lighter.
-
Fat content is slightly higher in toms compared to hens.
Suitability for Meals
-
Whole toms are suitable for large gatherings while hens are good for smaller meals.
-
Hens tend to cook faster and more evenly than larger toms.
-
For holidays like Thanksgiving, either a hen or tom can be used based on preference.
-
Hen or tom meat can be used interchangeably in recipes depending on desired flavor.
-
Ground turkey can be made from either young hens or toms.
Raising Hen and Tom Poults
Here are some tips for raising hen and tom poults:
-
Hen poults mature earlier and can start laying eggs around 6 months of age.
-
Separate hen and tom poults at 5-6 weeks old to prevent early mating.
-
Raising hen poults exclusively avoids aggression issues seen with tom poults.
-
Provide high protein feed to poults to support fast growth.
-
Allow poults access to grass for foraging from 2 weeks old onwards.
-
Ensure adequate space for poults as they rapidly gain size, especially toms.
Buying Hen or Tom Turkey
Follow these tips when purchasing hen or tom turkey:
-
Check label for sex designation, though this is optional.
-
Look at size to identify toms – they are noticeably larger.
-
Pick hen or tom depending on number of servings needed.
-
For flavor, select hen for milder taste or tom for richer flavor.
-
Avoid oversized toms as they can be tough. Go for medium sized.
-
Check for plump, clean and unbruised skin without tears or feathers.
While hen and tom turkeys belong to the same species, they have distinct physical, behavioral and flavor differences due to reproductive variations. Consider the key contrasts between size, appearance, temperament, taste and suitability for the meal when deciding between purchasing a hen or tom turkey. Both have their own merits for delivering a delicious holiday feast.
Turkey Basics-Gobblers and Hens
Let’s begin with the basics of distinguishing male wild turkeys (gobblers) from females (hens).
Gobblers are larger-bodied birds, with a darker coloration, at times appearing almost black. In bright sunlight, their feathers cast a brilliant bronze or metallic iridescence. Gobblers have a featherless, red head (sometimes with blue and white coloring, too) with prominent wattle and fleshy, red growths (called caruncles) on their neck. They also have a “beard”—a tuft of black, hair-like strands—protruding from their chest.
On adult gobblers (called toms), the beard can be 7-9 inches or more in length, but on young gobblers (called jakes) the beard is <6 inches long. Typically, gobblers hang out away from hens during the summer since they take no part in raising young.
Hens are more brown in coloration and smaller in size than gobblers. They have a head that is more blue-gray in appearance, often with feathers continuing up the back of the head.
Occasionally hens will have a beard, but it is thinner than on gobblers and is quite often kinked. Hens can also have some feather iridescence, but not to the same extent as gobblers.
How many gobblers and hens do you see in this picture?
2 gobblers (both jakes, note the larger size, less-feathered red heads, and tiny stubble of a beard protruding from the chest of the jake on the right), 4 hens (one mostly hidden behind a jake, but you still can clearly see the typical head of a hen turkey poking out), 1 unknown. If we were here in person live, the birds would move about and we could probably determine that the unknown is another jake, but given what we can see in this photo, it’s best to just call this partially obstructed bird an unknown.
Poults develop very quickly (they must in order not to be eaten!) and feather types, appearance, and body size change rapidly as they age. Based on these characteristics, we can estimate the age of poults. For simplicity, we divide poults into three age classes.
1 week old or younger. Poults that are no more than about a week old are still covered with downy feathers and are very small (<5-6 inches tall). They look like little puff balls about the size of your fist.
Turkey Poult Class 1
2-5 weeks old. Poults in this class have grown longer wing feathers, but still are mostly covered with downy feathers on their body and still lack long tail feathers. They are about 6-10 inches tall, similar in size to a Blue Jay. In appearance, they look to be all wings (which is good because it means now they can fly into low trees to escape ground predators). Poults on the older end of this age class will have started to grow some juvenile plumage on their bodies, but still have short tail feathers.
Hen with class 2 age group poults
Hen with older class 2 age-group poult (borderline class 3)
Hen with class 2 age group poults
6-8 weeks or older. Poults early in this stage still have some down feathers occurring on the neck and head, but their body is covered with juvenile type contour feathers. They have visible tail feathers now, black-and-white barred wing feathers are emerging, and they stand about 10-12 inches tall, similar in size to a crow or a chicken. By about 8 weeks of age, poults are beginning to grow new “adult” looking body feathers and will have a mixture of juvenile feathers and adult feathers on their body. They are about half the size of the hen and will continue to grow to almost the same size as the hen by the end of the summer. Turkey Poults
Because they are very similar in size, late in the summer it can be very challenging to determine if a group of similar-sized turkeys is a flock of hens without poults or a hen and her older-age-class brood. If you’re unsure, it’s best to mark them as unknowns.
Turkey Identification – Turkey Hunting for Beginners
FAQ
How can you tell a tom turkey from a hen?
Which is a better turkey, hen or tom?
How to tell the difference between a hen and a gobbler?
How do you tell a male turkey from a female turkey?