The preferred mating ratio is 1 tom to 10 hens. It may be worthwhile to help maintain fertility by using two consecutive batches of toms during the season. Remove and replace all toms at the same time to guard against the odd birds being ostracised.
What is a tom on a turkey?
The sex designation of “hen” (female) or “tom” (male) turkey is optional on the label, and is an indication of size. Toms are larger but both toms and hens should be equally tender.
Which is better a tom turkey or a hen?
Most experts agree that a hen turkey is better than a tom, but it is probably a matter of personal preference. Hens are generally smaller than tom turkeys of the same age. Hens weigh less than sixteen pounds while toms always weigh over sixteen pounds.
How many turkeys does a female Tom have?
In natural mating the male; female ratio is 1:5 for medium type turkeys and 1:3 for large types. On an average 40-50 poults is expected form each breeder hen. Toms are rarely used for mating after first year due to reduced fertility.
How many hens does a Tom need?
10 hens
Turkeys are polygamous, and one tom can fertilize as many as 10 hens.
Why is it called a tom turkey?
It’s an urban myth that Ben Franklin named turkey’s “toms” after Thomas Jefferson. The truth is the name “tom” stems from “tomcat,” a term used to describe a wild man that often enjoys the company of multiple females, much like the wild turkey.
What’s the difference in a hen turkey and a tom turkey?
Hens are female turkeys and toms are males. Toms are, on average, larger, so if you’re going for a turkey over 18 pounds, you’ll likely end up with a tom, whereas if you’re looking for a turkey 14 pounds or under, you’re likely to buy a hen. Other than size, there isn’t a real difference.
How do you tell a hen from a tom from a wild turkey?
Head: A Tom’s head is usually featherless and can change colors from red, white or blue. A Hen will have a blue head. Both sexes will have the bumpy growths on their heads known as caruncles and both also have a snood – a long fleshy growth that will hang over their bill.
How do you tell the difference between a male and a female wild turkey?
The easiest way to determine the turkey’s sex is by examining the feathers on the breast and sides of the turkey. On males, these feathers have black tips. The feather tips are brown on females.
What is a Jenny turkey?
A male turkey is called a tom or a gobbler, a female turkey a hen, and a baby turkey a poult or chick. A young male turkey is called a jake and a young female is called a jenny.
How many tom turkeys are in a flock?
Oftentimes, several hens and their offspring will combine flocks, so it’s quite common to see 50 or more birds together. The Cornell Lab or Ornithology reports that some winter flocks can consist of 200 turkeys.
How many times does a hen turkey breed?
No, the hen only needs to breed once in order to fertilize all her eggs. Hens typically lay one egg per day over a two-week period with two or three days during that time when she does not lay an egg. She won’t sit on the nest until her last egg is laid.
Do male turkeys sit on eggs?
The hen doesn’t incubate the eggs (sitting on them to keep them warm) until she’s laid them all. Hens travel in a females-only flock, but they become more solitary and secretive in May when it comes to nesting. She’ll hang out with the flock and feed until she needs to lay an egg.
How many eggs does a turkey lay before she sits on them?
She may lay a clutch of anywhere from 8–16 eggs before she gets broody. Turkeys incubate for 28 days at 100.5 degrees. The hatchlings want for a lot of attention, and will want to follow her or you around. If you take her eggs to eat, and don’t let her brood, she could lay over 100 eggs in a year.
How long do baby turkeys stay with their mother?
The young, called poults, are able to fly in three or four weeks, but they stay with their mother up to four months.
What is a group of turkeys called?
A group of turkeys is called a rafter or a flock. A wild turkey’s gobble can be heard up to one mile away and is a primary means for a tom to communicate with his harem of hens.
What are the 4 types of turkeys?
Each subspecies has their own set of characteristics when it comes to physical appearance and aggressiveness of calling. The six types of wild turkeys are: Eastern wild turkey, Osceola wild turkey, Gould’s wild turkey, Merriam’s wild turkey, Rio Grande wild turkey, and the Ocellated wild turkey.
What are baby turkeys called?
During the first 4 weeks of life, baby turkeys, called poults, are unable to fly and rely on their mother for protection.
What is a female turkey called?
hens
Adult female turkeys are called hens. Juvenile females are called jennies. Adult females average half the size of male turkeys. poults will not survive.
At what age do male turkeys start to gobble?
These poults are only three weeks old, and they’re already trying to gobble with the best of ’em. These poults are only three weeks old, and they’re already trying to gobble with the best of ’em. It’s just a little bit more high-pitched and a whole lot cuter.
What time of year do turkeys lay eggs?
Egg laying is mainly in March and April with peak hatching occurring in early May. Mating activities for the Rio Grande starts in March and nesting activity is high near the end of April. With the incubation period of 28 days, most poults are present in the last week of May or early June.
