Let's Talk Turkey

Turkey Terms



The chef carving our turkey at our German
Thanksgiving meal. Es schmeckt gut!

 Poult - a baby turkey.  A chick.

Tom – a male turkey. Wild males are known as gobblers.

Flock - a group of turkeys.

Jake -  gobblers that are less than a year old.

Hen - a female turkey.

Jenny -  hens that are less than a year old.

Caruncle – the brightly colored growths on the throat region.  Turns bright red when the turkey is upset or during courtship.

Gizzard – the part of a turkey’s stomach that contains helps them grind up food for digestion.

Snood - the flap of skin that hangs over the turkey's beak.  Like the caruncle, it turns bright red when the turkey is upset or during courtship.

Wattle - the flap of skin under the turkey's chin. Like the caruncle and snood, it turns bright red when the turkey is upset or during courtship.

Beard -  feathers that grow out from the chest of male turkeys and some hens

Drag marks - marks left by gobblers when they strut. The wing feathers are dragged along the ground and look like someone drew a line in the sand.

Basted or Self-Basted — bone-in turkey products (such as whole birds) that are injected or marinated with a solution containing butter or other edible fat, broth, stock or water, plus spices, flavor enhancers and other approved substances should be labeled as “basted” or “self-basted.”

Free Range or Free Roaming — in order to use these terms on a label, poultry producers must provide a brief description of the bird’s housing conditions with the label when it is submitted for approval. The To be free range or free roaming, the birds have continuous, free access to the outdoors for more than 51 percent of their lives.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!