What Is the Difference Between a Tom and a Hen Turkey

Hens are female and Toms are male. On average, Toms are larger, so if you’re looking for a turkey over 18 pounds, you will most likely end up with a Tom. A second item to consider is when choosing between a Hen or Tom is the bone to meat ratio. Toms have larger bones and less edible portions.

What turkey is better a hen or tom?

Most experts agree that a hen turkey is better than a tom, but it is probably a matter of personal preference. Hens are generally smaller than tom turkeys of the same age. Hens weigh less than sixteen pounds while toms always weigh over sixteen pounds.

Do tom turkeys taste different?

Short answer: No. The wild turkey tastes different than the domestic turkey. Long answer: Somewhat. The wild turkey grows up eating wild, natural nuts, berries, herbaceous materials and insects.