How Many Legs Does a Turkey Have?

Most people know that turkeys have two legs, but don’t realize that they also have two legs on their back! That’s right, a turkey has four legs total. The back legs are fairly short and are used more for balance than propulsion. The front legs are long and powerful and are used for walking and running.

While most turkeys have four legs, there are some rare cases of five-legged turkeys. These turkeys are called polydactyl turkeys and they are considered a novelty. They are usually found in North America and are bred for exhibition purposes.

While it’s unlikely that you’ll ever encounter a five-legged turkey, it’s still interesting to know that they exist!

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A turkey has 16 human-type fingers and toes, arranged in pairs. Each turkey limb has four digits—two pointing forward and two pointing backward. Combined with their large body and relatively long neck, this gives them a total of 24 digits.

While most poultry has three toes pointing forward and one rear-facing toe, turkeys have two toes pointing forward and two backward on each foot. This makes it look like they are walking on their toes, which helps them keep their balance while running and makes them more agile when turning.

So how many legs does a turkey have? Technically, adult turkeys have four legs—two thighs and two drumsticks. However, because their ankles are so far back on their body, it appears as if they have only two legs.

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A juvenile turkey has four legs. Two of these legs are used for walking and two are used for perching. The juvenile turkey also has two wings, which it uses for flying.

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A turkey has four legs when it is a senior. If a turkey loses a leg, it can still live a long and healthy life.

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A turkey hatchling generally has3 sets of legs: 2 long legs in the front and a shorter one in the back. This back leg is sometimes called a drumstick. The front legs have 4-toed talons, which are sharp and help the young bird grip surfaces. The back leg has a 3-toed foot, which the bird uses for perching. The number of toes can vary somewhat, with some hatchlings having an extra toe on one or both of their feet.

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Turkey chicks are born with two legs, like all other poultry. However, as they grow, they develop a third leg in the middle of their bodies. This third leg is known as a "spruce," and it helps the turkey balance while it is running and jumping. When fully grown, a turkey has four legs.

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In the early days of a turkey’s life, it will have four legs. However, as the turkey grows older, it will develop two additional legs. This brings the total number of legs on a mature turkey to six. The additional legs are located on the back of the bird, near the base of the tail. These extra legs are known as “spurs” and are used for balance and stability when the turkey is running or flying. The spurs also play a role in turkey mating rituals, where the male will use them to impress potential mates.

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A turkey has two legs when it is a mature adult.