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Author Topic: Hen with a beard & spurs  (Read 2016 times)

Offline Hook hanger

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Re: Hen with a beard & spurs
« Reply #15 on: January 30, 2023, 01:51:37 AM »
Have seen hens that had spurs and beards shot in the fall. Even seen a newbie that killed one and called me up and asked what he killed.

Offline runngun

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Re: Hen with a beard & spurs
« Reply #16 on: January 30, 2023, 03:21:19 PM »
Thanks for sharing this picture with us. Definitely a first for me.  I have a friend who is retired Wildlife Biologist, who specializes on all things turkey. He even wrote a book on Turkey Biology. I can't wait to show him this.

Have a good one and May God bless
Bo

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Offline Hwd silvestris

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Re: Hen with a beard & spurs
« Reply #17 on: January 30, 2023, 05:04:06 PM »
Thanks for sharing this picture with us. Definitely a first for me.  I have a friend who is retired Wildlife Biologist, who specializes on all things turkey. He even wrote a book on Turkey Biology. I can't wait to show him this.

Have a good one and May God bless
Bo

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I would be eager to see what he had to say on the topic.  I think I’ve had her on camera for a couple years now not realizing she may have spurs and her beard was not nearly as good two years ago. 
These type things may be more common than I think.
Last year had a gobbler with no beard whatsoever not even a hint of a beard on camera with really good spurs. I let him walk for a Jake one morning gobbling my his head off.   After looking at a camera we noticed he had spurs .   At the end of season my son missed him.  This year I have him on camera again with a Jake beard with those really good spurs. 
I’m sure it’s all some genetic thing. Please let me know what the fella  says. 


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Offline runngun

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Re: Hen with a beard & spurs
« Reply #18 on: January 30, 2023, 07:52:05 PM »
PM sent.

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Offline WV Flopper

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Re: Hen with a beard & spurs
« Reply #19 on: January 30, 2023, 08:16:02 PM »
Ever think this may be a case of a male turkey trying to identify as a female? Dull feathers, high feathers on neck and lack of color on the head...maybe he is trying to fit in. At least he doesn't think he is a chicken.

Offline Hwd silvestris

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Re: Hen with a beard & spurs
« Reply #20 on: January 30, 2023, 09:26:48 PM »
If she comes up gobbling this spring she gonna be in trouble!  She must identify as both.  I’ve seen her flocked up with other gobblers as well as other hens on different occasions.   


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Offline MK M GOBL

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Re: Hen with a beard & spurs
« Reply #21 on: January 30, 2023, 09:55:09 PM »
Feathers tell me it's a male, no light tipped body feathers everything body is black tipped. Has a beard and spurs... and not to say hens don't have those.

MK M GOBL


Offline Hwd silvestris

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Re: Hen with a beard & spurs
« Reply #22 on: January 30, 2023, 10:55:09 PM »
Here is a couple more pics.  One being a guy and one hanging with the ladies. 
She looks an awful lot like the other hens to me.


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Offline cassga

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Re: Hen with a beard & spurs
« Reply #23 on: January 30, 2023, 11:01:53 PM »
Pretty wild! That's a first for me.

Offline runngun

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Re: Hen with a beard & spurs
« Reply #24 on: January 31, 2023, 12:40:16 PM »
My Biologists Friend said that he has of course trapped numerous bearded hens. He said that he has seen this before, but it is very rare. I  sent him the pictures posted here.

Have a good one and May God bless
Bo

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Offline runngun

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Re: Hen with a beard & spurs
« Reply #25 on: January 31, 2023, 01:44:17 PM »
If you keep getting pictures, please update us. I showed him the pictures that you posted today and he said that he would really like to get some more pictures.  The latest pictures he said looks to him like a "Wormy" Gobbler. But would like more pictures.

Have a good one and May God bless
Bo

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Offline Sir-diealot

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Re: Hen with a beard & spurs
« Reply #26 on: January 31, 2023, 04:03:48 PM »
Scientific?   Can’t help you.   But I did stay at a Holiday one time ;D
Is that where all the top biologists stay? Now I know where to catch up with Michael Chamberlain. He stopped talking to me.
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Offline Hwd silvestris

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Re: Hen with a beard & spurs
« Reply #27 on: January 31, 2023, 07:07:28 PM »
Pat was back today.  Here are a few more pics from today.  I apologize if there is some duplicates.  It’s difficult on my end to tell which I’ve sent already.


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Offline runngun

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Re: Hen with a beard & spurs
« Reply #28 on: January 31, 2023, 07:28:06 PM »
Thanks, I'll forward them to him.

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Offline Haypatch

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Re: Hen with a beard & spurs
« Reply #29 on: February 03, 2023, 02:48:39 PM »
I've seen several bearded hen's but never a spurred hen!! Thats very unique!!