Farm animals
Domestic turkey
meleagris gallopavo f. domestica
Species originDomesticated
Domestic turkey
- Description
- The domestic turkey is a large ground fowl bred from the North American wild turkey. In heavy strains the males (toms) exceed 15 kg, while hens are much smaller at around 4–9 kg. The bald head and neck are covered in red and bluish skin adorned with fleshy wattles and a soft fingerlike snood above the beak. During display the tom fluffs his plumage, spreads his tail into a fan and gobbles loudly.
- Habitat
- As a domestic bird it is kept on farms, smallholdings and in backyard flocks worldwide. Its wild ancestor inhabits the deciduous and mixed woodlands and forest edges of North America.
- Diet
- Omnivorous. It forages for seeds, grain, green plants, acorns and small invertebrates; kept birds are given cereals and pelleted feed.
- Reproduction
- A hen lays 8–15 eggs and incubates them for about 28 days. The precocial poults leave the nest soon after hatching but stay close to their mother.
- Lifespan
- With good care it can live around 10 years, though meat breeds are usually raised for only a few months.
- Did you know?
- The English word "turkey" comes from a mix-up — Europeans confused the new bird with guinea fowl imported through Turkey, and the name stuck.
Homeland & habitat
Where the domestic turkey lives
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Mexico and North AmericaThis domestic breed descends from the wild turkey domesticated by the peoples of Mexico and the North American Southwest, and is now kept worldwide.
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Native rangeIntroduced / also today
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10 facts about the domestic turkey
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