GROWTH PARAMETERS AND SEX AND AGE CRITERIA FOR JUVENILE EASTERN WILD TURKEYS
Abstract Most information on the growth and development of juvenile wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) has been obtained from game‐farm stock and little data is available for young poults. One or more of the following data were recorded from hatching to approximately 210 days of age for 97 hand‐rear...
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| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
1980-01-01
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| Series: | Wildlife Society Bulletin |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2328-5540.1980.tb00131.x |
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| Summary: | Abstract Most information on the growth and development of juvenile wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) has been obtained from game‐farm stock and little data is available for young poults. One or more of the following data were recorded from hatching to approximately 210 days of age for 97 hand‐reared wild turkeys: body weight, leg length, primary molt patterns, and length of postjuvenile primaries 7 and 8. From hatching to 35 days, age could be determined from leg length or juvenile primary patterns but sex could not be distinguished.. Between 35 and 56 days of age, weights and leg lengths of males and females began to diverge but not enough to positively determine sex. Age was most accurately determined from the postjuvenile primary molt pattern. Between 56 and 98 days, there was sexual dimorphism in leg length, body weight, and molt sequence, and both sex and age could be determined. Beyond 98 days of age, leg length alone separated the sexes. Age could be determined up to about 177 days for females and 190 days for males by measuring the length of postjuvenile primaries 7 and 8. Use of the combination of body weight, leg length, and primary molt pattern provided the most accurate method for determining sex and age. Data from hand‐reared poults compared favorably with that from wild‐trapped, known‐age poults from several northeastern states. The data indicate that techniques now used in the Northeast are overaging juveniles. |
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| ISSN: | 2328-5540 |