Today I had an amazing encounter with a family of turkeys in our yard. Two baby turkeys and their mother spent more than an hour relaxing and walking around. I wrote all about the encounter here (turkey vs. bird garden statue) but as I was writing I kept wondering what are baby turkeys called? Well now I know! So let’s jump in and find out the proper name for a baby turkey.
If you’ve ever wondered what to call a female turkey, you’re not alone. With different names used for juveniles and adults, it can get confusing. Let’s clarify the various names for young and mature female turkeys.
Female Turkey Terminology
There are two main terms used to describe female turkeys
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Hen – An adult female turkey is called a hen This name is commonly used for mature female domesticated turkeys
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Jenny – A young female turkey is called a jenny. Jennies are typically between 8 to 16 weeks old.
- Young female turkeys = Jennies
- Adult female turkeys = Hens
Why Use Different Names?
You may be wondering why there are different names for young and adult female turkeys, Here are some reasons behind having distinct terminology
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Age – Jennies and hens are at different life stages, so having separate names distinguishes their maturity levels.
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Size – Jennies are smaller and have not reached their full grown size. Hens are fully mature and usually about half the size of male turkeys.
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Breeding Status – Jennies are sexually immature, while hens are mature and can breed. The names help indicate this difference.
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Poultry Terminology – Many domestic bird species have specific names for juveniles vs adults. Using jenny and hen follows poultry naming conventions.
So in essence, the names help identify the growth phase and breeding suitability of female turkeys. It provides important information to poultry farmers and breeders.
Typical Developmental Stages
To give a better sense of a female turkey’s development, here are the usual life stages:
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Poult – A newborn turkey of either sex is called a poult. They are fluffy and chick-like when first hatched.
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Jake – A young male turkey under 16 weeks old.
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Jenny – A young female as described above.
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Tom – A sexually mature male capable of breeding. Also called a gobbler.
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Hen – A mature female turkey.
So the progression is: Poult → Jake/Jenny → Tom/Hen
The jenny stage lasts from 8-16 weeks of age. By 5 months old, a female turkey is considered an adult hen.
Appearance of Jennies
How can you identify a jenny? Here are some features that distinguish young female turkeys:
- Smaller, more compact body size compared to adults
- Smoother, less colorful head than males
- Shorter tail feathers than males
- Lack of beard or leg spurs
- Distinct vocalizations, like high-pitched yelping
Their feathers are also less defined compared to adults. Jennies have a fluffier, juvenile appearance overall.
Behaviors of Jennies
In addition to looks, jennies exhibit some youthful behaviors:
- Form close bonds with other poults
- Stay closer to mom than independent adults
- Have higher activity levels and curiosity
- Practice flying short distances
- Begin roosting in low branches and heights
So in many ways, jennies act like turkey teenagers! Their actions are more energetic, social, and inquisitive than mature hens.
When Jennies Become Hens
As female turkeys grow, they gradually shift from jennies to hens. This maturation happens between 16 weeks to 5 months of age. By their first breeding season, they are full grown hens.
The transformation involves:
- Reaching maximum body size
- Developing more adult plumage
- Losing fledgling behaviors
- Forming interest in mating/nesting
- Laying eggs for the first time
So the jenny phase is a relatively short window before females become adult hens. But it is a distinct developmental stage marked by youthful traits.
Remembering the Names
To recap, here are some simple ways to remember female turkey terminology:
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Jenny the Juvenile – Associate jenny with young age.
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Mother Hen – Picture a maternal hen caring for chicks.
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Jenny to Hen – Envision a jenny’s growth into a hen.
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Juvies and Adults – Jennies are juveniles, hens are adults.
Hopefully this clears up what to call those female turkeys! Whether you’re talking about a fluffy jenny poult or a fully grown hen, using the right names helps identify their stage of maturity.
What is the Correct Name for a Baby Turkey?
The correct name of a baby turkey depends on which kind of turkey you’re talking about. There are only two wild species of turkey in the world, the Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) is the one Americans are likely to find walking through their yard and is found in every U.S. state except Alaska. The Ocellated Turkey (Meleagris ocellata) is only found in the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico. Any wild baby turkey is called a chick. That shouldn’t be hard to remember, it’s just like a chicken!
However, there is a slightly different answer if you’re talking about domestic turkeys, the kind raised on a farm that you might eat for Thanksgiving. Domestic turkeys are actually descendants of the Wild Turkey which were probably first domesticated by the Mayans in Mexico up to 2,000 years ago! So what are baby turkeys called if they’re domestic? You can still call them a chick, but a more common name is a poult. It’s like the word poultry with the end cut off.
Poult can be used for the babies of any domesticated fowl that’s being raised for food, like chickens or pheasants, but is used most frequently for baby turkeys.
So What is a Group of Turkeys Called?
A group of turkeys is called a flock. Some folks may tell you that a group of turkeys is called a rafter, but much like a “murder of crows” it’s not really used by researchers or in common language, only by folks who like to show off their knowledge of obscure trivia from very old books (like the Book of Saint Albans 1486).
While chick and flock seem like pretty common bird names, there are a few more unusual turkey names. An adult male turkey is called a Tom or a Gobbler. An adult female turkey is a hen. A juvenile male turkey may be called a Jake while a juvenile female turkey might be referred to as a Jenny (according to the Maryland DNR)
So let’s put some of our new lingo into use with an interesting turkey fact! Tom’s take no part in raising the chicks. The hen will raise them by herself and eventually may band into a flock with other hens and their broods! (find other cool turkey info from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology)
Tom or Hen Turkey Poult? How To Tell the Difference
FAQ
What is the name of a young female turkey?
What are juvenile turkeys called?
What is a group of female turkeys called?
Is a female turkey called a tom?
What is a baby turkey called?
Sometimes you might hear baby turkeys being referred to as chicks, usually within the poultry or livestock industries. They are actually called ‘ poults ‘, originating from the old French ‘poulet’ which means ‘young fowl’. As they grow, juvenile females are called ‘ jennies ‘, before becoming turkey ‘ hens ‘ as adults.
What is the difference between a male and female Turkey?
Female turkeys are called “ hens “, male turkeys are called “ toms “ In this guide, we’ll go over some of the key differences between male and female turkeys and give you tips on how to tell them apart.
How do you call a female Turkey a hen?
You can call female turkey as a hen, male as gobbler or tom, young ones as chick, poult or turkeylings. For naming young males. Iake is a specific term whereas for young females use the term, Jenny. It is a common observation that female turkeys look like a hen. So, people call them a hen.
Do turkeys have a female name?
Turkeys have only two names for females. Let’s check out: The hen is a very common name for adult female turkeys. It is widely used for feminine birds all over the world. This term was used for domestic turkeys first but now it is used for females of wild turkey as well. This word can be used to represent female adult chicken.