Sexing Turkey Poults

[907poultry]

I did a search and surprisingly didn’t find another thread; I was told it can’t be done.

There is a hatchery that sells sexed turkey poults, but only BB.

Tell me your methods, old wives tale or otherwise. Some percentages (rough, not exact) on how many you got correct using x method would be helpful. Subtle details, physical, behavioral (size, shape, vibes, etc.)

I think the pick up method is bs but it could work and I am intrigued!

Turkey poults are under a week old, we definitely have some that are larger and heavier with pronounced brows, and some that are smaller and “dainty”.

Can provide pics if needed.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

They vent sex the poults, something backyard people can't do without risk

 

[R2elk]

I did a search and surprisingly didn’t find another thread; I was told it can’t be done.

There is a hatchery that sells sexed turkey poults, but only BB.

Tell me your methods, old wives tale or otherwise. Some percentages (rough, not exact) on how many you got correct using x method would be helpful. Subtle details, physical, behavioral (size, shape, vibes, etc.)

I think the pick up method is bs but it could work and I am intrigued!

Turkey poults are under a week old, we definitely have some that are larger and heavier with pronounced brows, and some that are smaller and “dainty”.

Can provide pics if needed.

Broad Breasted turkeys have been developed to be feather sexed. It is not quite the same as feather sexing chicks.

The one where idiots pick up the poult by the neck and dangle it does not work and can be very harmful to the health of the poults.

@Celie used a method that she claimed worked for her. Be sure to read her second post for clarification.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/turkeys-for-2013.725829/page-276#post-11833820

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/turkeys-for-2013.725829/page-276#post-11836985

I have had 100% success using @Celie 's method and I have had 100% failure using it.

 

[907poultry]

Th

Broad Breasted turkeys have been developed to be feather sexed. It is not quite the same as feather sexing chicks.

The one where idiots pick up the poult by the neck and dangle it does not work and can be very harmful to the health of the poults.

@Celie used a method that she claimed worked for her. Be sure to read her second post for clarification.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/turkeys-for-2013.725829/page-276#post-11833820

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/turkeys-for-2013.725829/page-276#post-11836985

I have had 100% success using @Celie 's method and I have had 100% failure using it.

Thankyou, I’ll try this, and keep in mind I might get a bad result.

 

[R2elk]

Th

Thankyou, I’ll try this, and keep in mind I might get a bad result.

I have been very successful sexing my own very young poults and am very good at it by the time they are 2 months old. I don't sex them based on any single trait but a combination of many different things.

But...I have both sexes to compare against each other and lots of time to observe them.

For sexing from pictures, they need to be at least 3 months old and better yet if they are 6 months old. Late developing toms can easily take 6 months before fully revealing their sex.

 

[907poultry]

UPDATE: The poults are nearly 3 weeks old and are showing noticeable size differences. 2 (Narragansett?) are large, the 3rd is smaller; the (bourbon red?) is smaller, and I will not count the Royal palm as it is not growing.

Is size a good determinant of sex?

 

[R2elk]

UPDATE: The poults are nearly 3 weeks old and are showing noticeable size differences. 2 (Narragansett?) are large, the 3rd is smaller; the (bourbon red?) is smaller, and I will not count the Royal palm as it is not growing.

Is size a good determinant of sex?

At 3 weeks, toms will start developing their wattle sooner than hens of the same variety will.