Bearded Lady

The growth of coarse feathers from the center of a turkey’s breast is oftentimes thought to be exclusively a characteristic of the male turkey.  Nevertheless, some hens will also sport a beard.  They’ve been known to grow up to 7 or 8 inches long! 

In case you are wondering about the consequence of this anomaly bearded hens also breed, lay and incubate eggs and raise broods of poults.  As near as anyone can figure - in the turkey kingdom a bearded hen is just as much an object of affection to spring gobblers as a hen without a beard. 

I’ve seen bearded hens – yet always looking for a big old gobbler have never killed one.  Although it is legal to do so in Wisconsin.  My pal Lawyer once killed a bearded hen.  But I digress. 

The purpose of this post is to introduce you to a video trail camera feature that will be published from time to time.  I’ve been beta-testing the newest Moultrie camera on video mode in a previously known location with proven wildlife traffic.  These videos are short 15 second vignettes and can be in either daylight (full color) or infrared (black and white) after dark.  There isn’t a sound feature but the recordings work just fine. 

This inaugural post features a bearded turkey hen.  You can spot it at the very beginning and close of the clip. 

Enjoy and stay-tuned…..