Spurs on a hen

[Jim K]

I have turkeys come into my bird feeder at my shop. Yesterday I was watching them from 10 yards. A bunch of hens and 3 longbeards. I look at the gobblers spurs with my binos. This one bird had its tail towards me. I saw 1/2" spurs on it. When it turned I was shocked to see it was a hen. I saw her again this morning and a friend saw it too.

Definitely a first for me. Any idea how rare this is?

[Number17]

Probably about as rare as a gobbler with no spurs. I killed a longbeard a few years ago without even a bump on the back of his legs.

[Hook hanger]

Have seen a couple hens that had jake like spurs not that uncommon in my opinion.

[Mick2394]

Seen a bunch of bearded hens but quite honestly don't think I've ever paid attention to a hens legs to even notice lol would be pretty cool to see


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[guesswho]

I've sen a lot of bearded hens in my area.   And have seen a few hens with noticeable bumps for Spurs, but I haven't seen any that would be as big as a half inch. 

[mountainhunter1]

I bet the boys don't push her around being she has spurs like that.

I killed a Tom two years ago that had no sign of ever having a spur on one leg, and he had a broken off spur on the other leg with what was not broken off being a little over a half of an inch remaining.

[Ridge Strutter]

Listened to a study out of N. Carolina (if I remember correctly) and of the captured hens, 10% had spurs.  This was unique to this area, not a generality.  Shocked everybody.

[strutstopper]

My dad killed a bearded hen in Kansas that had about 5/8 spurs.

[El Pavo Grande]

Have seen one that a friend killed it.  It had about a 9" thin beard, and the spurs were about 1/2" but very sharp. 

[Spitten and drummen]

Maybe she is identifying as a male. Pretty common now days.

[kytrkyhntr]

I saw a bearded hen get killed with them about 15 years ago in western kentucky. Haven't heard or seen it before or since till your post today. Interesting