Turkeys are native North American birds spread across various parts of the world.They are found in the wild as well as domesticated for poultry farming purposes. A turkey has differing traits and characteristics both in terms of appearance and survival mannerisms.Turkeys are social animals living together in a flock. They are also quite large in size compared to other birds. Their lineage goes back in time during the 16th century where they were domesticated in Mexico and then brought to Europe. Generally, wild turkeys have dark feathers and are black in color, which helps them fit in and survive in their wild habitats.Male turkeys also have what is called a beard, black hairline feathers on their breasts. Some females have it too. Domesticated turkeys, however, have been bred over time to develop white feathers and have thicker flesh, which makes them more suitable for poultry farming and consumption. They also have an excellent sense of hearing despite having no physical ears, but a bad sense of smell and cannot see properly during the night. Being a bird, wild turkeys are capable of flying for short distances. However, domesticated turkeys weigh too much to be able to fly.If you’ve enjoyed reading this article, you might also like what animal has the best hearing, and what are baby geese called.What are male, female, and baby turkeys called?Turkeys are very adaptive animals. They are able to survive in a variety of environments, which is why they are known by different names in different places around the globe.‘Tom’ or ‘gobbler’ is what a male turkey usually is called. Females are known as ‘hens.’ Young baby turkeys also have names, different for each sex. A baby turkey is commonly called a poult or a chick. But when they grow up a bit, the young male turkey is called a ‘jake,’ and the young female turkey is called a ‘jenny.’ Certain classes among other remarkably similar yet unrelated birds are referred to as turkeys, such as the bustard or the Australian turkey, megapode or the brush turkey, and the snakebird or water turkey.At what age are turkeys considered babies?Baby turkeys or chicks, also called poults, are considered babies until they are around five to six weeks old.For a hen, the nesting season begins in March or April where it builds a nest. The hen lays its eggs at one egg per day for 10-12 continuous days, until the time a total of 15-16 eggs are laid. Then it incubates for around 28 days before the eggs start to hatch. After hatching, the hen shelters the baby turkey or chick for a period of four weeks because they are unable to fly yet. However, as soon as the poult grows five to six weeks old, they develop feathers that enable them to fly.The poults still flock with the mother hen for almost an entire year before they are allowed in the wild alone. This phenomenon is similar for both domesticated and wild baby turkeys. Hence, the baby bird sticks with the flock, especially the hens, to roost with them on the ground.What do baby turkeys eat?Baby turkeys have a very specific diet requirement that needs to be fulfilled because it is important for their transition into an adult, especially during the first four to six weeks of their lives.Domesticated turkeys require turkey or gamebird starter bird mash or crumbles, which is a standard diet for baby birds of similar nature to turkeys. It is a blend that is specifically formulated for their growth. Poults require high amounts of protein in their early years, approximately 28%, which is why a carefully curated, balanced diet is the key. Even for emergency ration, their food must not contain a disproportionate amount of ingredients. A diet filled with high amounts of calcium like layer or breeder mash crumbles or pellets must be avoided at all costs as it may harm the young bird because high calcium is difficult for the young poults to digest. It ends up damaging their bones, liver, and kidneys which eventually will lead to their death.On the other hand, wild turkeys are occasionally omnivorous in nature, which means the wild poult will eat mast and nuts from the trees, which the female will bring in its nest. Since chicks don’t have teeth, it is essential that the mothers feed them a mash at all items. As the poult continues to grow into an adult, its diet starts to include insects and small reptiles like snakes, spiders, and snails. Compared to their domesticated counterparts, wild turkeys feed a lot more meat to their chicks.What is a group of turkeys called?Turkeys are usually found in large numbers, either in a wild setting or a poultry farm. Toms and hens assemble in groups in their nests during the egg-laying period, and post-birth, when toms are responsible for bringing food, and the mother turkey is responsible for preparing the food.Turkeys have very social behavior, flocking and feeding together with their entire group at all times. On the ground, a group of wild turkeys is usually called a flock, and that of domesticated ones is called a rafter. Some also call them a gang of turkeys, and another rarely used name for turkey groups is a dule or a brood of turkeys. A turkey group on a farm, if observed, looks like a woven cloth from a distance and appears to give shelter to each other, which is why they are called a rafter of turkeys. A group of baby turkeys, on the other hand, is simply a collection of poults or chicks. Some people also refer to a group of male turkeys as a gaggle of turkeys.Given their social nature, turkeys enjoy the company of other creatures, including humans. They are known to like having their feathers stroked, and toms even dance during the summer to attract the hens. Even though they spend most of their time searching for seeds, wild berries, and insects, wild turkeys are extremely responsible birds and never leave their eggs or baby turkeys alone on the ground. The tom will keep a lookout for raccoons in the wild. Raccoons, while hunting, catch and kill young turkeys and may also attack a hen’s nest and spoil her eggs.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for what are baby turkeys called, then why not take a look at hairless animals, or white turkey facts.
Turkeys are native North American birds spread across various parts of the world.
