Many people don't understand the difference between turkey and turkey. Some believe that these are one and the same thing, others, on the contrary, mean completely different things by these concepts. Some compare a live bird and a cooked dish, others use both words equally. Still others even believe that one of these terms is a description of the women of the indigenous tribes of North America. In addition, it is also necessary to pay attention to sexual differences between males and females.
Many people do not understand: turkey and turkey - what is the difference
Differences in words
If we consider the question from the point of view of semantic load, then there are no differences between the words “turkey” and “turkey”. In the explanatory dictionary edited by D. N. Ushakov, two words appear.
Meanings of the word "turkey":
- Female turkey.
- Its meat is like food.
Meaning of the word "turkey":
- Turkey meat as food.
- Same as turkey in 1 value.
There is also the word “turkey” - this is also turkey meat.
There are two popular opinions according to which these names have different shades of meaning:
- It is believed that a live bird is called a turkey, and a ready-made dish is called a turkey: a turkey is served at the table, and a turkey is bred at home.
- Some people think that turkey is a wild bird and turkey is domesticated.
Proponents of this version insist that the words have different meanings, and there are several of them:
- A live bird is called a turkey; by the way, most often this word can be heard from older people (the popular name), and especially in rural areas. But turkey is a dish made from meat, basically a whole roasted bird.
- Wild birds are called turkeys, and domesticated ones are called turkeys.
- Domestic breeders call their breeds “turkeys.” Most likely, remembering what our ancestors called them before. And foreign, especially American, breeds are already called “Turkeys”.
In fact, there is absolutely no fundamental difference. Both turkey and turkey in their meaning are concepts that are used to designate a female.
But if you really care about it scientifically, then call the birds turkeys. Keeping in mind that they represent the turkey family.
Option for poultry farmers, for whom the difference between words is visible
There are opinions that point to the difference between the concepts of turkey and turkey. And the version of such statements is not unique. Often the word “turkey” implies that it is meat that has been baked in the oven. Confirmation of this theory is supported by examples from Russian classical works, for example, in Chekhov’s book this is the name for ready-made fried food.
The turkey is a living organism. In proverbs and aphorisms of Russian writers, this concept is used when they talk about a person who speaks incomprehensibly, mumbles, since turkeys make incomprehensible, not very pleasant sounds, with which they compare slurred human speech.
How is a male different from a female?
Female on the left, male on the right
There are several methods to find out the sex of a bird. Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages. Below are the most accurate ones, by which you can with a high degree of probability determine who is in front of you: a male or a female.
By external signs
The most significant feature that distinguishes a “boy” from a “girl” is “coral” - an outgrowth of the skin of a bright crimson hue, reaching a length of 10-15 cm. The beard begins under the beak, and hangs down from there. Appears exclusively in males.
And above, above the beak, there is another, fleshy, process. It is present in both sexes, but in the male it is large and shiny, in the female it is pale and small.
Adult turkey and turkey hen
To differentiate, pay attention to the bird's head. In adult males it is bald, in females it has a small fluff.
The crest of males has a red, burgundy tint, much larger, and more saturated in color than that of females. In the latter it is pale pink or orange.
Note! Turkeys have a longer bare neck than turkeys.
When offering food, take a closer look at the bird's chest. Males have thicker, coarser plumage, and have a hard “brush” or “tassel” of feathers. In females, on the contrary, the plumage is softer and sparser.
By the fullness of the tail
Sex determination option suitable for adult birds. Females have a small, neat tail. In male representatives, the plumage is dense, causing the tail to become lush.
This sign is more noticeable than others. Adult birds are immediately recognized by it. In an excited state, the tail of male individuals puffs up and appears voluminous.
By spurs and litter volume
The legs of males are longer and the toes are larger in size than those of females. The presence or absence of sharp spurs (a kind of horny processes) is quite easy to notice.
Only turkeys have spurs; they use them for fighting and protection; in females, the formation is rare, and even then only in its infancy.
Birds are also distinguished by the amount of litter they have. In males it is smaller in volume, dense, and arranged in the Latin letter “J”. In females, the amount of waste product is greater, and the piles are stacked in the form of a slide.
By habits
Behavioral analysis will help distinguish males from females. The former are focused on protecting their offspring and often fight at a young age. When the male is excited, he spreads his tail.
Also in this state, the process above the beak becomes tense, and the “corals” become brighter. Males stay solitary. Females are sociable and often gather in groups.
By size of individual
What the male (right) and female (left) look like, photo:
Male individuals are two to three times larger than turkeys. Accordingly, “boys” are heavier than “girls,” often 2-3 times. The chest of males is wider.
External characteristics of the turkey
The turkey is a slender and long-legged bird , with a short tail and wings that are very powerful in nature.
Their head and upper neck are bare, and instead of a crest they have warty growths called corals. There is also a nasal process on the forehead. The size of the appendage and coral directly depends on the sex of the bird. It is interesting that in an excited state, in representatives of the stronger sex, corals and growths increase several times, filling with blood. In a normal and calm state, the growths are dark red in color, while in an excited state the color varies from blue to purple.
Do birds differ depending on their habitat?
Scientists compared turkeys bred on Russian farms with American birds. No particular discrepancies were found, but sometimes the breeds that are bred in Russia are called turkeys, and the American ones are called turkeys.
Among the popular breeds in our country are:
- Moscow white. Turkeys are not very heavy, but are easy to breed. The female lays eggs well, and the eggs do not require special conditions for ripening. The breed tolerates severe weather conditions well.
- North Caucasian bronze. The bird gains weight well in pasture conditions, which significantly saves money on feed in the summer. This is one of the largest breeds in Russia: males reach a weight of 14 kg, females - 7 kg.
- White, broad-chested. It is unpretentious to weather conditions and tolerates cold better than others. Within the same breed there are small, medium and large turkeys.
Method No. 9 - on the plumage of the body of birds
Over time, the plumage of turkeys and turkeys becomes strikingly different. For example, males have thick feathers on their chests that puff up during fights and sexual hunting, while females have sparse, soft feathers in this area.
The distance from the crop to the male's chest is covered with tassels of feathers.
The plumage of turkeys is more magnificent than that of turkeys
How to determine the sex of baby turkeys?
It is quite difficult to determine the sex of small turkey chicks.
The sex of an adult is determined by a number of factors:
- behavior;
- corals (growths on the neck);
- growth on the beak;
- growth under the chin;
- plumage on the head;
- paw structure
Until the turkey chick has reached at least two months of age, it is difficult to talk about its belonging to one sex or another.
The only way to know for sure who hatched from the egg is to use the original Japanese method of feeling the cloaca. It is suitable for determining the sex of newborn chicks.
The meaning of the method is that the cloaca of a newborn chick is opened and the future genitals are examined. The male's reproductive system, which has not yet formed, is represented by two bright red tubercles. The turkey will have one bump that is pink or pale red.
Some poultry farmers determine the sex of turkeys by carcass size. But this technique can only be used in poultry farms where there is complete confidence in the purity of the poultry breed.
Home breeding guarantees various variations in the herd's gene pool, which can result in individual females being larger than males.
Chicks separated by sex grow faster.
Therefore, on poultry farms, the sex is determined immediately after the birth of the bird.
The Japanese technique can be used in the first 15 hours of a turkey’s life. After this, the cloaca acquires elasticity and rigidity, which will not allow a sufficient examination of the chick’s genitals.
Special gland
The male of this bird has a fairly pronounced gland that can be palpated. You can fully feel and palpate this gland when your poultry is about five months old.
The method is considered a common folk method, but not a scientific one. But the technology always works flawlessly. Sex can be determined when the turkey and female turkey are the same weight - this happens at the age of six months.
Qualified farmers prefer this method, as it accurately determines the sex of poultry of this breed.
Does the difference in breeds and habitat affect the name of female turkeys?
Turkey breeds are quite diverse. Recently domesticated or wild birds are most often called turkeys. Domesticated many years, even centuries, ago, the birds are colloquially called turkeys.
A large bird that is bred on any continent of the earth, in Europe and America, is usually called turkey. In the CIS countries and Russia, the bird is more often called turkey.
The difference is felt only in the root of the word, the protein meat is the same, the plumage and other characteristics differ only in the characteristics of the breeds.
The highest quality turkey meat is obtained in the United States; the Russian climate for turkeys is not very favorable, so the difference in size is noticeable; Russian birds are smaller. From one bird they get up to 100 eggs per year, and up to 14 kilos of meat.
Breeding
Turkeys reach sexual maturity at 7-9 months of age, depending on the breed. Peak egg production occurs in spring and autumn; on average, hens lay up to 100 eggs per season.
They are rarely used for incubation, since turkey poults obtained in this way do not survive well, and due to their massive body, females can simply crush the eggs. Females have a highly developed brooding instinct, which some farmers take advantage of when raising small breeds.
After oviposition, eggs need to be checked for fertilization using an ovoscope. After this, they can be given to the bird for incubation or an incubator can be used. It takes 28 days for turkey poults to hatch, after which they can be transferred to a brooder. In adult poultry houses, young animals are released at the age of 30 days.
Breeding turkey poults is a profitable business; eggs and raised young animals are in great demand on the market. If the gender composition of the herd is observed, eggs are fertilized in large quantities, however, after one laying cycle, it is advisable to send the hens to slaughter, since egg productivity then decreases.
Territorial differences
To accurately distinguish the sexual characteristics of a turkey or female turkey, it is better to wait until the bird is more mature or contact a special laboratory. But this opportunity is often absent in small farms, so poultry farmers can distinguish the sex of turkeys by external characteristics.
The main differences between males and females:
- the body of females is smaller than that of males in size and less massive;
- the male turkey has spurs and a beard (from two months), which the turkey does not have;
- absence of coral growths in turkeys;
- the feathers on the chest of females are delicate and not very thick, but on turkeys, on the contrary, they are coarse and frequent;
- the presence of a special gland in males, which resembles a lump-shaped seal (felt no earlier than five months of age);
- heterogeneity of feathers on the edge of the wings of turkey pullets.
Females and males can be distinguished by the number of bowel movements. In females, droppings are piled up and are characterized by large quantities and increased density.
Turkey is the largest bird grown on almost all continents of the globe. In the countries of the former CIS it is usually called turkey, although in foreign countries its name is different - turkey. Poultry provides a lot of meat, so it is necessary for humans. Its muscle tissue contains a lot of protein.
The best quality turkey meat comes from the USA. But turkeys are not so well adapted to the Russian climate, so here they do not reach such large sizes. One bird produces approximately 100 eggs per year, and after its slaughter you can get 5-14 kg of meat with dietary qualities.
Caring for turkeys is easy, no more difficult than caring for chickens. The bird is easy to care for, develops quickly, and consumes cheap food. The leader in turkey meat production is the USA.
Tasty and aromatic
As for turkey, this is what is customary to call an already cooked bird . Tender and tasty meat is considered healthy and dietary, and the dish is perfect for a holiday table. In the West, such important holidays as New Year, Christmas and Thanksgiving are unthinkable without this traditional dish. Moreover, they often use a male turkey, due to its large size, to impress a large family or group of friends with a huge baked carcass.
The most classic recipe is to bake the whole carcass in the oven, stuffing it with various fillings - vegetables, mushrooms, juicy fruits, nuts and even meat. This tradition came from America, from the homeland of this bird, where it is especially valued. Meat is not only tender and tasty, but also the healthiest of all animal products - it has a minimum of cholesterol and almost no harmful fat, but a lot of useful substances and vitamins. It contains a whole storehouse of sodium, the lack of which can lead to various ailments.
This meat is ideal for children, allergy sufferers and those on diets, and is also highly recommended for older people. Turkey is recommended during recovery from illness and is included in the therapeutic diet. True, cooking it is not as easy as chicken - you need to know some subtleties and tricks. You need to choose the right carcass: young, with light elastic skin, smooth surface, with firm and dense meat. The carcass should not weigh more than five kilograms - young individuals are much tastier and more tender.
There are a lot of options for cooking turkey. The most classic and beloved by most is whole in the oven , with a fragrant, juicy crust that no one can resist. But there are also simpler, everyday dishes and cooking methods. It is boiled, fried in pieces or individual parts (for example, thighs), baked in foil or in a sleeve, made into rolls, homemade sausages, stuffed. They make soups, jellied meat, stews, add to pasta, fry goulash, stew.
A very popular technique is to stuff the carcass with cereals, nuts, apples, mushrooms, liver, and potatoes. The meat is prepared marinated so that it is more tender and juicy, and the carcass is never cooked cold - it must be at room temperature.
Signs of identifying the disease
Turkeys of different ages can be susceptible to various diseases. But if the farmer carefully monitors the livestock, he will be able to identify the symptoms of the disease in time and take appropriate measures.
Signs of a sick individual:
- unusual loud noises or sneezing;
- change in normal turkey odor;
- lethargy, stretching of the neck and drooping wings;
- soft, liquid droppings with bloody discharge;
- loss of appetite and thirst, or refusal to drink water.
Having noticed at least one of these signs, it is worth thinking about the health of the birds and paying attention to how they live. Most often, both small turkey poults and adults, infection occurs from lack of light, poor quality care and pecking of infected droppings. At home, if turkeys live and come into contact with other animals, it is imperative to vaccinate, which helps prevent many contagious and non-contagious diseases. It is also recommended to feed small turkeys with fortified supplements that strengthen the immune system.
Why do you need to be able to differentiate between genders?
It is very important for poultry farmers to know what gender a particular bird belongs to, because... Thanks to this, the conditions of keeping and feeding the livestock are adjusted. How productive the birds will be depends on the environment in which they find themselves. Some owners prefer to breed birds of only a certain sex. If you separate young stock from an early age, you can more accurately calculate costs and profitability.
Among the features of heterosexual turkeys are the following:
- Males have better health, they are exposed to diseases much less often than females;
- producers need to provide more feed;
- egg products are in demand among buyers, which means you need to take care of the quality of the product;
- turkeys practically do not suffer from obesity (unlike turkeys).
Origin[edit | edit code]
History of domestication[edit | edit code]
Domestication of the wild turkey took place in the New World, where indigenous people domesticated the wild turkey long before the Europeans discovered America[2]. In 1519, turkeys were brought to Spain (hence another, outdated, name - “ Spanish chickens”
"), and after 5 years they spread to France, England and throughout Europe[3][4].
Another early name for turkey is “ Turkish chickens
”[5], which was assigned to the bird in English (
“Turkey”
).
Application among the Aztecs[edit | edit code]
In his fundamental work “General History of the Affairs of New Spain” (1547-1577), Bernardino de Sahagún, relying on Aztec information about the properties of plants, provided various information about the use of turkey in health-restoring dishes:
“...But if the patient’s stomach is in extreme disorder, then let him drink a certain kind of atole, which in the local language is called istatolli, or broth from boiled turkey two or three times. The illness will be cleared. Then eat...[6] Or drink this well-boiled Ashina water, but if he does not want to drink it, then at least let him drink chicken broth...[7] And if the diarrhea is severe, in order to delay it, they force him to take a little bird's broth or thin gruel called yolatolly... [8] Having taken it in this way, the patient drinks a little bird's broth or broth of bird's breasts, called yolatolly, and, having taken it, eats; but he should not drink cold water...”[9]
Price
Turkey eggs for incubation can be purchased starting from 50 rubles each. Raised young animals cost a little more - the price for daily heavy cross-breed turkey poults starts from 300 rubles per piece.
Adult birds have a high cost, which is influenced by the age of the bird, breed and quality of the nursery. Breeding turkeys in good health can be found from 4 thousand rubles.
You need to purchase birds only from verified farms or from breeders who have all the sanitary and veterinary certificates. When purchasing eggs for incubation, it is necessary to check them with an ovoscope and carefully inspect the young for the presence of diseases and pests.
Turkey diseases
You need to know about poultry diseases
Even the most well-groomed turkey at home can get sick. Therefore, any owner needs to know the main symptoms of pathologies. If this is an industrial farm, timely diagnosis will help save the entire livestock from infections. Most often found in poultry:
- Newcastle disease. Caused by a virus, birds become paralyzed when infected, followed by diarrhea. The duration of the disease is 1-4 days, less often 7-10 days. If sick turkeys are identified, they must be slaughtered immediately and the carcasses destroyed. Treatment has not yet been developed; vaccinations are used for prevention.
- Respiratory mycoplasmosis. With this disease, birds first wheeze, sneeze, and cough. Then swelling or swelling appears under the eyes. The mortality rate is not very high, but little meat is obtained from turkey with mycoplasmosis. She is losing weight and is stunted. To prevent the infection from spreading, sick birds are isolated and the poultry house is disinfected.
- Pullorosis. Pathology of young animals, sick little chicks are stunted, weaken, and begin to have diarrhea. At the final stage, the turkey poults fall on their feet and huddle in a corner. The mortality rate among young animals is quite high. For prevention, it is important to keep the box with the chicks clean; their water should always be clean and their food fresh.
- Aspergillotoxicosis. Fungal turkey pathology, which is transmitted through contaminated food. Can be acute or chronic. It manifests itself as diarrhea, the turkey becomes lethargic, is stunted, and loses weight. It is best to slaughter a sick individual, disinfect the room, and change the bedding. Tablets with bacteria and sour milk are good at preventing the disease.
- Histosomiasis. A bacterial disease that affects the colon and liver. The main signs are foamy diarrhea of an orange or yellowish hue, loss of appetite, weight loss, feather loss. Often the disease occurs in a flock that lives in a former duck house.
- Parasites. When skin parasites appear, the turkey itches and behaves restlessly. For prevention, ash baths are arranged, and the poultry house can be treated with insecticides.
When the first signs of pathology appear, you should contact a veterinarian, why take another risk. If this is a dangerous infectious disease, the entire herd should be slaughtered. Both sick and healthy birds are slaughtered. For some diseases, you can still get meat from turkey; they are not dangerous for humans. There are pathologies that can actually be treated. To prevent your turkey from getting sick at home, you need to keep the house clean and vaccinate on time.
Poultry house organization
To properly prepare a poultry house, it is necessary to take into account the size of adult turkeys. The principle here is relevant - the more space, the better. An area for walking should also be provided. Fresh air has a beneficial effect on the immunity and development of turkeys. During the walk, the flock will have the opportunity to realize its instincts to obtain natural food.
Turkeys love cleanliness, dryness and warmth. These conditions must be met when planning a poultry house. Particular attention must be paid to the ventilation system. Drafts reduce the immunity of birds. In ventilation it is necessary to provide a control system for the volume of incoming air. In case of excess, an adjustable damper must be installed.
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