How common do you think Bearded hens are?

[WNCTracker]

Every year I see a few of them but this morning there was a flock of hens in the road and 4 or 5 of them had 1" beards?  Maybe something genetic in that group?

[NCbowjunkie]

I usually see 1 or 2 a year on different land, it seems the ones that I see are lone hens.

[Haypatch]

I've seen a few on our land over the years ...  got a few pictures of one a couple years ago while deer hunting that had about a 9" beard!

[Gamblinman]

Seems to run more common in certain flocks and areas. I hunt a ranch in TX that has quite a few.

[fallhnt]

10% of the hen population has beards.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

[MK M GOBL]

Every year I see a few of them but this morning there was a flock of hens in the road and 4 or 5 of them had 1" beards?  Maybe something genetic in that group?

Well my guess is those are all the same brood mates (sisters) of last year with the "beard" trait. They would be Jennys just as jakes. I see them often enough each year and in some areas more often.

MK M GOBL

[guesswho]

Real common on the grounds I frequent, as are multibeards.  Not sure if there is any correlation between the two or not.   

[davisd9]

Real common on the grounds I frequent, as are multibeards.  Not sure if there is any correlation between the two or not.

There is a theory that there is because of the beard gene coming from both sides. The farm I hunt has bearded hens and multi beards. No idea if there is more to it than just the theory.

[hootgobbleyelpgobble]

Real common on the grounds I frequent, as are multibeards.  Not sure if there is any correlation between the two or not.

I have been told by my turkey mentor, that he has seen an correlation between bearded hens and multi bearded gobblers.

One tract I hunt, the only bird killed off it 2 years ago was double bearded. Then this past fall, while deer hunting, I saw 3 bearded hens in a group of 6 birds. These hens all had 4 inch beards minimum.

[LaLongbeard]

Depends on the location I've never seen a bearded hen in Louisiana last year a guy hunting with us in Nebraska shot two bearded hens and we saw a few more on the same farm.

[BottomLand54]

We hunted one last year 7-9 inch beard just couldn't find her. Unreal how big she was and how long her beard was. Only one I have ever seen.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Ridge]

I agree that it is a genetic thing; certain areas seem to hold more bearded hens than others. For example, Delaware seems to have a higher percentage of bearded hens than most areas. However, if I remember correctly, I believe the overall percentage of hens with a beard is closer to 2-4%.

[SteelerFan]

10% of the hen population has beards.

Agreed. 10%-12% average (as a whole)

[greencop01]

In Plymouth Ma I have seen bearded hens for many years now. Not an over abundance but more than I have seen anywhere else, even neighboring states. It must be in the gene pool in this area. I add that I have never shot a bearded hen. Never wanted a turkey that bad to kill a hen in the spring.

[joey46]

Have hunted FL, OH, KY, TN and WV since the 1970s and never seen one in the field or at a check station.