Mia Patel
Male and female turkey chicks, or poults, can be difficult to distinguish from one another, but there are several ways to tell them apart. One method is to examine the chick's vent, located beneath its tail and between its legs. If the vent appears bumpy, the chick is male; if it is flat, the chick is female. Another way to differentiate is by observing the chick's legs when it is picked up. Male poults tend to tuck in their legs, while female poults let their legs dangle. Male chicks may also begin to strut around three weeks of age, fanning their tail feathers and holding their heads upright, which is uncommon for female poults at this age.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Behaviour | Males display dominance and aggression. Females are more passive and nurturing. |
| Appearance | Males are larger with longer tails and legs. Females are smaller with shorter tails and legs. |
| Head | Males are bald with colourful heads. Females have feathers on their heads with duller, neutral-coloured heads. |
| Snood | Males have long and droopy snoods. Females have short and small snoods. |
| Wattles | Males have larger red wattles. |
| Vent | Males have bumpy vents. Females have flat vents. |
| Legs | Males tuck their legs in when picked up. Females let their legs dangle. |
| Sounds | Males make a distinctive gobbling sound. |
| Eyes | Males look mean. Females look nice. |
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What You'll Learn
Check the feathers and colouring
Male turkeys, also known as "toms" or "gobblers", have distinctively coloured feathers that can appear shiny, metallic, or iridescent in sunlight. Their feathers may also be black, brown, or grey. On the other hand, female turkeys, or "hens", have duller, more modest, and neutral-coloured feathers, which are usually brown or grey. Male turkeys also have longer tail feathers, while females have shorter tails.
Male turkeys have a "'beard' of stiff feathers running down their chest, which is absent in females. Male turkeys also tend to fan out their tail feathers to attract mates and establish dominance. Additionally, males have feathery "beards" on their chests, while females typically do not.
The head of a male turkey is featherless and colourful, often with shades of red, white, and blue. In contrast, female turkeys have feathers on their heads, necks, and backs of their necks, and their heads are more neutral-toned. The blue-grey flesh of female turkeys may also be visible beneath their head feathers.
Young turkeys, or "poults", can be sexed by inspecting the vent opening located under the tail, between the bird's legs. Female poults will dangle their legs, while male poults will pull their legs up.
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Observe strutting behaviour
One of the most iconic behaviours of male turkeys is strutting. This behaviour is primarily aimed at attracting females and asserting dominance over other males. During this display, males fan out their tail feathers, puff up their bodies, and drag their wings along the ground. They also hold their heads upright and close to their bodies. This behaviour is more commonly observed in adult male turkeys, as physical and behavioural traits are more pronounced. However, it has been observed that baby male turkeys, around three weeks old, may also begin to strut.
Female turkeys do not typically strut, especially at a young age. However, it is important to note that female birds occasionally strut as well, so this behaviour is not a conclusive way to determine the gender of a turkey.
When strutting, male turkeys also exhibit other behaviours that can help in identifying them. They may gobble loudly to attract females and ward off other males. Their vocalisations are distinct from the softer clucking and purring sounds made by females. Male turkeys also have colourful heads that are often red, white, or blue, while female heads are more neutral-toned. The caruncles on the necks and heads of male turkeys are also more pronounced and can turn bright red during mating season.
In addition to observing strutting behaviour, you can try separating the turkeys from the group one by one. The smaller males may feel more comfortable expressing themselves when they are separate, and they may start to strut and fan their feathers.
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Listen for gobbling
One of the most distinctive ways to tell male and female turkeys apart is by listening for the famous 'gobble' call, which is almost exclusively made by males. Male turkeys, also known as "toms", make gobbling sounds to attract mates and establish dominance. They also gobble to scare off predators and potential rivals. This behaviour is similar to a rooster's crow.
Female turkeys, or "hens", on the other hand, make soft clucking or yelping sounds to communicate with their offspring and other hens. They do not tend to gobble, although there may be exceptions.
It is worth noting that young turkeys may not exhibit all the characteristics of adults, and some sources suggest that it can be challenging to determine the gender of young turkeys. Therefore, if you are trying to identify the gender of turkey chicks, you may need to wait until they are older and listen for gobbling sounds.
In addition to listening for gobbling, there are other methods you can use to identify the gender of turkey chicks. One way is to compare the thickness of their legs, as hens typically have narrower legs than toms. You can also examine the feathers on their heads. Male turkeys usually have completely bald heads, while females often have small feathers extending over the top of their heads.
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Examine the vent
To examine the vent of a turkey chick to determine its sex, you must first locate the vent, which is found beneath the tail and between the legs. The vent allows turkeys to mate and reproduce. It is important to be very careful when handling young turkeys, as too much pressure can be harmful, and even fatal, to the chick.
To begin the examination, gently pick up the chick, using one hand to carefully hold its wings down as you inspect the area between its legs. The way the chick's legs react when you pick it up can also be an indicator of its sex: male chicks tend to tuck their legs in, while female chicks let their legs dangle.
When examining the vent, look for a bump or a flat surface. If the chick's vent appears bumpy, it is likely male; if it is completely flat, it is probably female. When vent sexing, it is important to note that female chicks may initially appear to have a male process, but this will retract with continued examination, so it is important to be patient and wait a moment to double-check.
To get a better view of the vent, you can use your thumbs and forefingers to gently open the vent, and use a magnifying glass to identify the sex characteristics. In male chicks, you should see a transparent bulb protruding almost to the opening of the vent; in female chicks, you should see a shallow depression.
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Check the head
One of the ways to determine the gender of a turkey chick is by observing its head. Male turkeys, also known as "toms", have completely bald heads with bright colours of red, white, and blue. They also have long and drooping snoods (fleshy growths hanging over the bill) and larger red wattles (fleshy lobes hanging from the chin or throat). On the other hand, female turkeys, or "hens", have feathers on their heads, with blue-grey flesh that may be visible beneath the feathers. Their snoods are shorter and smaller, and they lack the large red wattles of the males.
Another difference is the shape of the head when viewed from the top. Male turkey heads are more square-shaped, while female turkey heads are more triangular. Additionally, female turkeys tend to have more fuzz on the top of their heads, whereas males have a more noticeable caruncle (wart-like growth) at the base of the neck. The caruncle on female turkeys is smaller and evenly sized, while on males, it is larger and varied in size.
As turkey chicks grow older, the differences in their heads become more apparent. Male turkeys will develop brighter and more colourful heads with age, while female turkeys will maintain a duller and more neutral-coloured head. The heads of male turkeys may turn bright red with blues and possibly even purples when they strut during mating displays.
It is important to note that these differences in head characteristics may not be as noticeable when the turkey chicks are very young and still have their baby fluff. As they mature and lose some of this fluff, the features described above will become more evident, making it easier to determine the gender of the turkey chick by observing its head.
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Frequently asked questions
It can be difficult to determine the gender of a newly hatched turkey chick, but here are some indicators to look out for:
- Check the feathers on its head. Female turkeys have feathers on their heads, while males don't.
- Examine its vent, located beneath its tail and between its legs. If the vent appears bumpy, the chick is male; if it is flat, the chick is female.
- Pick the chick up and observe its legs. Male chicks tend to tuck their legs in when picked up, while female chicks let their legs dangle.
- Look at the colour of its feathers. Male turkeys have colourful, shiny feathers, whereas female turkeys have duller brown or grey feathers.
Once turkeys are around three weeks old, you may be able to tell their gender by their behaviour:
- Males, or 'jakes', may begin to strut. They fan their tail feathers, drop their wings, and hold out their contour feathers to make their bodies appear larger. They also hold their heads upright and close to their body.
- Males also make a distinctive gobbling sound.
Male turkeys, also known as 'toms', generally have:
- Longer tails and legs
- A long and droopy snood on their bill
- Larger red wattles (fleshy lobes hanging from the chin or throat)
- Shinier feathers
- Colourful heads, often with shades of red, white, and blue
Female turkeys, or 'hens', generally have:
- Shorter tails and legs
- A small snood
- Smaller red wattles
- Less shiny feathers
- Duller, more neutral-coloured heads
While the above indicators can help you make an educated guess, it can be difficult to determine the gender of very young turkeys with certainty. You may need to wait until the turkeys are a few weeks old to be able to tell more reliably.
