The Main Difference is that chickens are usually smaller, have a much faster growth rate, and can be harvested sooner. Since turkeys take 20 weeks to reach market weight while it only takes half that time for chickens, they cost more per pound than their chicken counterparts. They also require more feed than other poultry so raising them is generally less profitable than with chickens if you’re just starting out
Chickens vs Turkey: What’s the Difference?
Chickens vs Turkey -Besides dogs and cats, we probably are more familiar with chickens and turkeys than any other animal. However, while most people would often tend to confuse one for the other, there are some critical differences between a chicken and turkey, even though they both belong to the same bird family.
Check Out Amazon for Educational Resources for Breeding Chickens
And that’s why today, after doing some personal researches on these two birds, will be sharing with you the main differences between chicken and turkey based on their attributes.
Modern Poultry Farming Chicken / Turkeys
Characteristics of CHICKENS
Chicken Eggs
Chickens are among the type of birds that reproduce by laying eggs of many colors. For instance, the white and brown chicken eggs naturally come in green and blueish color. Plus, the breed of the chicken determines what hue their eggs will be. They come in a variety of colors , even to shades of Green and Blue.
Chicken’s Size and Weight
Chickens often stand less than 70 cm (27.6 inches) and weigh about 5.7lbs on average. The biggest chicken, known as Brahma, weighs around 8.2lbs.
12 Ways to Make Money by Chicken Farming—Extensive Guidelines for Chicken Farmers
Physical Attributes
Rooster
A male chicken, which is often known as rooster, has a comb, central tail feather, saddle, cape, hackle, lesser sickle feathers, ear lobes sickle feather, ear lobes, wattles, beak, fluff, hock joint shank, wing bow, wing front, spur, claws, and toes.
Hen
While the female chicken known as a hen, have all these physical attributes too except, wattles, beak, and are generally smaller in size.
T-rex Ancestor to the Chicken
Chickens are the closest living relatives of the t-rex. One team of researchers strapped a big dinosaur tail onto a chicken, to get an idea about how the killer dinosaur walked through this earth.
Birth Control
Chickens have natural built-in birth control. This is why during mating, a hen will take many roosters to mate with, and choose which one will be the proud father. The females can eject the sperm they don’t want.
Feathers
Chickens have feathers that start developing when they are about three months old, thus providing clues about the makeup of the flock. nce a chicks feathers develope you can determine the chicks, sex around 10 days of age.
Chickens Express Empathy
Although most people aren’t aware of this fact, chickens are capable of empathy. This was discovered in an experiment where the moms were monitored, while their chicks were hit with an uncomfortable puff of air. It was observed that the grown-ups watching exhibited the same stressed responses as their offspring.
Chickens have an Unique language
Chickens have a unique spoken language that they use in communicating with one another. With at least twenty-four specific vocalizations, each of them carries a different message that only they can understand.
Chickens have a Sharp Memory
Chickens can tell who’s in the coop, differentiate individuals within their flock, and also recognize human faces they’ve seen in the past. They surprisingly have a very sharp memory.
Communicate with Chicks in Eggs
Hens talk to their unborn chicks, while the little ones are still growing inside the shell. The mothers begin to call to them once they’ve developed enough. And to respond, the chicks join in the conversation. Just like a human baby knows the voice of its mother, so does the newborn chick.
Multiple Chicks
A chicken’s eggs can contain another egg (many chicks). Although it rarely happens, sometimes, doubles do occur. And this is often as a result of regular contractions that send an already developing egg back to the ovary. As soon as it’s back at the starting point, another shell forms around it.
Double Yolks – Tradition / Legend
There is often a double yolk in chickens, which does predict a marriage. Nevertheless, that’s according to an
Old wive’s tale that says when there are two sunshine centers, a friend’s nuptials will soon be celebrated
A certain woman in New Zealand cracked open an egg with eight yolks, but it’s unknown if four weddings followed. That’s a mystery we’re yet to solve.
Egg Formation
Now, let’s have a look at the turkeys.
TURKEY
Faster in Speed and Flight – 55MPH
In terms of speed, turkeys are way faster than chickens. And this is an interesting fact because, despite their heavy build, turkeys can run at a rate of 25 miles an hour ( Chickens 9 MPH) and fly at a speed of about 55 miles an hour.
Turkeys have a lifespan of 3 – 5 Years in the wild. If they are not invited to thanksgiving?????
They lay about same amount of eggs, just larger. 10 – 12 every 2 weeks.
Larger in Size
On average, male turkeys weigh about 18 – 37lbs, while the females are often more sluggish and smaller, weighing between 8 to 10lbs. The male turkey can stand at about 4 feet tall, measuring from 117 cm (46 inches) from beak tip, down to the tail tip. On the other hand, they often measure about 94 cm (37 inches).
Turkeys Physical Attributes
Gobbler – Male
Both male and female turkeys are born with very long necks, featherless blue head, sturdy spurred legs, and a fan-shaped tail. The male ones often have a breast tuft, while the female ones do not.
Hen – Female
Gobbler’s Beard Plumage
Males have iridescent red, green, copper, bronze, and gold feathers, which they use to attract females during the breeding season. Females, on the other hand, are drab, usually with brown or gray feathers. The dull plumage helps in camouflaging them when nesting and raising a family. On adult males, these beards average about 9 inches long. However, 10 to 20 percent of hens also grow beards.
Turkey Change Colors
Turkeys grow in different color phases, which include: smokey gray color, phasemelanistic color phase (all black), an erythritic color phase (reddish), and an albino color phase (extremely rare).
Turkey Tails and Legs
Turkeys often have long spurs that can measure up to 2- 2.25 inches in length. These are used for Protection and fighting. The tails, on the other hand, are usually 12 to 15 inches long and are banded at their tips.
Gender / Poop Specific
One can determine the gender of a turkey, just by looking at the shape of its poop. The males have a spiral-shaped poop, while the females have a litter j-shaped poop shape. This can’t be achieved in chickens
Turkey Meat for Energy
Reportedly, a roasted turkey was Neil Armstrong’s first meal on the moon in 1969. Also, it seems to be America’s favorite, especially during memorials and other forms of family celebration. On Thanksgiving Holiday each November of every year.
In a nutshell, even though turkey and chicken are both in the same bird family, these two differ not only in their physical attributes but in how they both communicate, mate, and so on. So, next time you hear someone say that they are no apparent differences between these two birds, all you have to do is refer them to this article to look at differences. .
Chicken / Poultry Breeder Associations
| Rabbit Association | Location | Link |
|---|---|---|
| US Poultry & Egg Association | United States | USPA |
| American Poultry Association | California | APA |
| Ohio Poultry Association | Ohio | OPA |
| National Chicken Council | United States | NCC |
| British Poultry Council | United Kingdom | BPCE |
| Poultry Club of Great Britain | United Kingdom | PCGB |
| Association of Poultry Breeders in EU | Europe | AVEC |
| Australian Chicken Meat Federation Inc | Australia | ACMF |
| Australian Poultry Hub | Australia | Poultry Hub |
