A gobbler has a red beard.
Learning ferret out gobbler turkeys (males) from hens (females) is useful for people who work with animals on farms and specifically important for hunters. Young turkeys, known as jakes, are practically identical to their adult counterparts after eight weeks of age, except for the fact that the tail feathers on jakes are not all the same length, whereas they are on an adult turkey. Chicks look alike until they begin to mature, and once they mature, you will begin to notice differences. Once you've had a bit of practice, you'll be able to tell the difference between a young gobbler and a hen quite quickly and easily.
Instructions
1. Look at the head of the turkey. Hens typically have blue heads, which makes this the number one marker for telling the difference between the two. A gobbler will also have a white forehead and a hen will have a much paler face. These traits will begin to become apparent around eight weeks of age.
2. Examine the breast. A hen will have a rusty breast without a beard, while gobblers will often have a red beard. Gobbler's breasts are also more often black. A hen will usually have white or buff-tipped feathers, while a gobbler will have black-tipped feathers. These differences will begin to develop a little before the turkey hits the eight-week maturity mark.
3. Look at the turkey's feet. If the feet have spurs, or little pieces of skin on the back, they are gobblers. Spurs are about a half inch or longer on a mature turkey.
4. Note the size of the turkey. A female turkey is usually smaller than a male.
5. Watch as they develop. A hen will begin to develop smooth feathers around or a little bit before or after it turns eight weeks of age.
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