Unlike many other turkey breeds, the Royal Palm is relatively small -- males top out at around 9.98kg. and females only around 10 -- and has a more colourful, distinctive feather display. Sexing Royal Palms is the same as sexing other turkeys, as they share the same sexually dimorphic characteristics as other breeds. As adults, sexing is simple even from a distance; for young poults under eight weeks of age, it is much more difficult and better left to a professional or time itself.

  • Unlike many other turkey breeds, the Royal Palm is relatively small -- males top out at around 9.98kg.

Observe the full-grown flock together. Males are considerably larger than females and are so even at eight weeks of age. If you have the means, weigh the birds. Adult males typically weigh 6.8 to 9.07kg.; females typically weigh 4.54 to 5.44kg.

Look at the colour of the turkey's face surrounding the eyes and on top of the head. Males have blue faces; females have completely pink faces.

Notice the size of the snood. The snood is a fleshy fold of skin that hangs over the turkey's beak. A male Royal Palm turkey (like other turkeys) has a long snood that hangs over and to one side of its beak. The female has a short snood that protrudes on the top of its beak. Females always have paler snoods than their male counterparts; sometimes the snood of a female is removed when the hen is young.

  • Look at the colour of the turkey's face surrounding the eyes and on top of the head.
  • A male Royal Palm turkey (like other turkeys) has a long snood that hangs over and to one side of its beak.

Notice the dewlap and caruncles of the turkey's throat. Male Royal Palms have large major caruncles and a larger dewlap than the female.

TIP

As a Royal Palm hen ages, her skin becomes darker but never as deep red as a tom's; they also do not develop blue skin. Overall, the female's body and proportions are smaller including shorter legs, smaller shanks and a smaller head and body.