# A turkey question.... ;)

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-turkey-question/215456>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 26, 2003, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-turkey-question/215456 "2003-11-26T21:15:41Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Kinthalis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kinthalis/32/16084_2.png) [@Kinthalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kinthalis)\
**Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-turkey-question/215456/1 "2003-11-26T21:15:41Z")

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It has come to my attention that in germany only female turkeys are eaten.

First of all, is this true?

Second of all, is the same thing done here?

And if so, what happens to the lucky males?

Finally, gobble gobble 😉

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**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\
**Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-turkey-question/215456/2 "2003-11-26T21:24:23Z")

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Do you mean purchased for consumption?

For whatever it’s worth I shot and we ate a large wild Tom last week and it was delicious.

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**Author:** ![Kinthalis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kinthalis/32/16084_2.png) [@Kinthalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kinthalis)\
**Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-turkey-question/215456/3 "2003-11-26T21:26:14Z")

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I did indeed meant purchased for consumption.

It was told to me that ONLY female turkeys were available for purchase.

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**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\
**Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-turkey-question/215456/4 "2003-11-26T21:59:44Z")

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I just bought something labelled a “Tom Turkey.” I always assumed a Tom turkey was male.

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**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\
**Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-turkey-question/215456/5 "2003-11-26T22:09:19Z")

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Here is a listing of both “hen” and “tom” turkeys for sale.  
[http://www.chefspride.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store\_Code=CP&Category\_Code=tky](http://www.chefspride.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=CP&Category_Code=tky)

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**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\
**Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-turkey-question/215456/6 "2003-11-26T22:14:52Z")

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I promise this is my last post…  
Difference between “hen” and “tom” turkey:  
[http://www.eatturkey.com/foodsrv/messages/2153.html](http://www.eatturkey.com/foodsrv/messages/2153.html)

General info on turkeys:  
[http://www.eatturkey.com/consumer/main.html](http://www.eatturkey.com/consumer/main.html)

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**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\
**Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-turkey-question/215456/7 "2003-11-26T22:33:01Z")

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When purchasing my turkey here in the states I was given the choice of either a hen or a tom.

Butterball says toms are males hens are females.  
[http://www.butterball.com/en/main\_canvas.jsp?includePage=thanks\_trivia.jsp&t=Thanksgiving%20Trivia&s0=holiday&s1=](http://www.butterball.com/en/main_canvas.jsp?includePage=thanks_trivia.jsp&t=Thanksgiving%20Trivia&s0=holiday&s1=)