| Author | Message | ||
| gobbstopper1946 |
Just got back from checking on my sisters property while she's away on a trip. I saw a gang of 43 hens, three which had beards. Two had beards about six inches long, pencil thick and one about two inches long, very thin. Is this good, bad or just normal? Seems to me thats an awful lot of bearded hens. GS... | ||
| Ryan Tucker
|
I know that it isn't not uncommon. Someone may know the specifics, but like 1 in 50 hens or something is bearded. | ||
| GN |
Is your sister single? | ||
| Freddy McGuire (Vaturkey)
|
I have seen more and more bearded hens over the years. What was once very rare seems to becoming more common in my stomping grounds. I usually see several every fall now... Despite some sayings- hens with beards can breed and raise young. I would say what you saw is a higher number of bearded hens than average but nothing to be worried about. Good one GN!  | ||
| GN |
Friend shot a bearded hen in the fall in Lee Co that had a 9 1/2 pencil beard. Last spring I had a bearded hen and some really late-brood young birds mess around in the field where iwas hunting. I had "heard" the bearded hens were questionable breeders but this one was clearly the Ma of those other birds. | ||
| Va. Boy |
According to Gary Norman , Va.'s Mr. Turkey ,from a statistical perspective, bearded hens are better brood hens than "normal" hens.Just a little food for thought if you're thinkink of shooting one next time. | ||
| mudfork |
Bearded hens can indeed brood. I had one on my place last summer that had a 3 inch beard and 5 poults. Saw her everyday until the mast dropped. | ||
| Daddyjan |
More turkeys equal more beared hens.With populations on the rise we will see more bearded hens.They pass there genetics down to there young so they may have off spring that are more likely to be bearded or have bearded young themselves.Just an uneducated guess.JMF | ||
| swampgobbler870
|
I used to see a bearded hen on our hunting lease in sussex co., haven't seen her in a couple of years. When i lived in Kingsville tx , i got a couple of pictures of one with about a four inch beard. | ||
| maytom |
I've only seen 4 in my lifetime so far!! One was over 8 years ago and three were together in a group of 15 last fall while bowhunting for deer!! I was sitting up against a stump next to this trail when I heard some yelping. I gave a few calls with my voice and here came 15 hens, three of which had beards!! I would have to guess 5-6" tops as well!! They ended up feding right on the other side of the very stump that I was sitting next too!! After about 15-20 minutes of this stuff, I had to do something in case a buck came along, I wouldn't be able to raise up or draw my bow with all those eyes around me!! So I spooked them off!! Got a good chuckle over seeing them all do back flips trying to get the heck out of there!!!! |