Generally the male turkeys have a beard of modified feathers running down the chest. In general, male turkeys are larger than female turkeys, but size alone is not a reliable indicator of gender. Females are around 35 inches long and weigh 8-12 pounds, whereas the males are around 45-48 inches long and weigh 15-25 pounds. Toms are polygamous and will mate with several different hens over the course of breeding season. A nearly surefire way to tell the toms from the hens is to watch for strutting, which can start at any age. Males also have sharp spurs on their legs, which are at least half an inch long. adElem.style.zIndex = ''; John Gouldis sometimes referred to as the British Audubon. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. They appear large Turkey Hens. WebMost North American kids learn turkey identification early, by tracing outlines of their hands to make Thanksgiving cards. 2. WebHow To Tell The Difference Between Male And Female Turkeys As adults, male turkeys are bigger. We'll share videos on everything from caring for and raising animals, gardening, mistakes we've made and lessons learned, how-to tips, and what our day to day life is like. Males legs will also get thicker. Birdzilla.com is your free resource to wild birds, their information, identification, facts and lots more. Things happen and occasionally one of your birds will die or get snatched by a predator. The Blue Slate turkey pictured at the beginning of the article is a tom, if you look closely you can see the beard in the lower left hand corner. Im always curious about what the hatching ratio is per batch but it really isnt a big deal, since no matter what you are doing having both male and female turkeys will work out just fine. This is common in many bird species and is thought to be why their droppings are shaped differently. Not only does it save us time and money from having to build new from scratch, but there's just something special about being able to reuse something that was built by your grandparents back in the day. Turkeys belong to the same family as partridges, pheasants and peafowl. Inspect the vent opening (located under the tail, between the birds legs) to determine the sex of baby turkeys. The more subdued coloration helps the female remain hidden while on the nest. Hens also have feathers on their heads, whereas toms do not. From behavior to appearance, these birds have distinct characteristics that set them apart from one another. A snood dangles from their beaks. If you need to sex turkeys for breeding purposes, hire a professional chicken sexer for help. The new Birdzilla.com guide contains 2,000 high-quality photographs of over 650 species. What will this chick look like when it grows us? Blast from the past The photograph below is one example of his excellent work. J. Dianne Dotson is a science writer with a degree in zoology/ecology and evolutionary biology. I have not seen it mentioned before (Id guess its somewhere, I just havent run across it) that the hens can fluff up and strutt, just like the toms. Your breeders should be your best stock, to know that you need to have other turkeys to compare them too and pick the best from the group. However, the snoods and wattles are different depending on the sex. In combination, over 50 million Americans watch and feed birds, expending over $20 billion each year in the process. To determine the gender of a baby turkey, examine its vent, which is located beneath its tail and between its legs. As adults, male turkeys, called toms, are always bigger than females, called hens. Determining turkey gender will be relatively easy for if you are raising turkeys for a long period. Search birds by color, habitat, body shape or size, Birds in U.S states. Male turkeys are very territorial and will fight over females just like roosters. The easiest way to tell whether a turkey is male, or female is its size. I prefer to follow BirdZilla on Facebook. These big, spectacular birds are an increasingly common sight the rest of the year, too, as flocks stride around woods and 2. The larger the diameter, the older the bird. Turkeys possess excellent sight but poor senses of smell and taste. Content for three very popular groups of birds is also included Purple Martins, Hummingbirds and Bluebirds. adElemSticky.style.width = rect.width + 'px';
This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. No! It is best to use multiple methods to determine the gender of a turkey to ensure accuracy. Additionally, both male and female turkeys make a variety of other sounds such as cackling while flying down from roosts, soft purring calls while on foot, and a series of yelps to regroup the flock. In bright sunlight, their feathers cast a brilliant bronze or metallic iridescence. In addition, male poults tend to be more territorial and aggressive toward other birds and their companions than female poults. Gobblers are larger-bodied birds, with a darker coloration, at times appearing almost black. Females, or hens, are smaller, with duller plumage and less prominent features. Male turkeys, also known as toms, are known for their dominant behavior and aggressive mating displays. Interestingly, their wingspan is quite similar, around 50-56 inches. Male turkeys will weigh more, continue to grow faster than the females, have a more caruncled head and neck and, as adults, will develop a beard. Males provide no parental care for the younglings. Head of the male turkey can switch from red to blue to white. ), link to 6 Reasons Why People (Just Like You!) Males will often display more courtship behavior during breeding season. Your email address will not be published. Offspring and Auto Sex Question. Males are more likely to be aggressive, especially during breeding season. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
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\n<\/p><\/div>"}. And in most cases, the more brightly colored males generally have the greatest success. WebMost North American kids learn turkey identification early, by tracing outlines of their hands to make Thanksgiving cards. You want healthy poults only, never accept less. Both of your poults will end up with snoods. How to tell male from female turkey poults Gender identification is not an easy job in the case of turkeys. These are used for fighting other toms and predators. Can I determine the gender of a turkey by its spurs? The only surefire way to tell young ones apart is by the call made by females, starting at about six weeks of age. Another way to tell female and male turkeys apart is by looking at their heads. On one end of the spectrum, birding can be a casual hobby. Trying to determine the gender of your newly-hatched turkey poults can be difficult, but when they are around 3 weeks of age the males (jakes) may begin to strut. Generally, the males have more brightly colored feathers than the females. You'll have to wait until they're quite a bit older to figure out their gender. Perhaps his best known bird illustrations are of hummingbirds. Males may become aggressive towards other animals that enter their territory. Your email address will not be published. The Best Nest Boxes Birds Will Actually Use, See a Gator Bite an Electric Eel With 860 Volts, The 15 Deepest Lakes in the United States, Watch a Great White Shark Stalk a Child on a Boogie Board, Bird Quiz - 18,267 People Couldn't Ace This Quiz, Watch a Bald Eagle Harass and Dive Bomb an Adult Grizzly, Tiny Crab Nearly Drowns a Large Bald Eagle in Impressive Fight, Meet One of the Smartest (and Naughtiest) Birds On Earth, Discover a Massive Eagle Thats 3X the Size of a Bald Eagle, Male VS Female Turkeys: Spotting The Difference. Additionally, identifying a male turkey vs a female turkey is easier when trying to tell the difference between adult birds. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. If the legs dangle down, it is female. Hens have duller feathers with shorter tail plumage. Most of the male turkeys generally have completely featherless heads, while the females have small feathers that extend over the top of their heads. The females and chicks travel in groups with each other, forming large flocks of young turkeys with multiple adult females. Sooo does that work for ALL breeds of turkeys? Male guineas never sound this two-syllable call. Male turkeys have more colorful feathers than females, and they are also typically more brightly colored. Gobblers are larger-bodied birds, with a darker coloration, at times appearing almost black. Compare the chicks covert feathers to their primary feathers. #43-105. var _footer = document.querySelector("#colophon"); (& how to tell when you need to). Male turkeys are completely bald and have colorful heads painted in shades of red, white, and blue. Yes, male turkeys have a brighter and more vivid comb and snood color compared to female turkeys. Its Safe & Best 21 Tips, Can Dogs Eat Chicharrones? Support wikiHow by I have only seen the beard to be black and hens do not ever grow a beard. Adult turkeys are hard to find, especially when you need them the most. adElemSticky.innerHTML = ''; Those that participate in the hobby arebirders. Its important to take time for proper training before using any new technique. Are there any differences in the shape of the turkeys body between males and females? Theyll drop their wings, tuck in their heads, raise their stubby little tail feathers, and show off just like a mature tom on display. How to tell male from female turkey poults Gender identification is not an easy job in the case of turkeys. Female turkeys, on the other hand, make soft clucking sounds, which are used to communicate with their offspring and other hens. Female turkeys have blue-grey flesh that may be visible beneath the feathers on their heads. It can be enjoyed by anyone, and can be as simple as spreading seed on the ground. She spent nine years working in laboratory and clinical research. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. WebHow do you tell male from female turkey poults? In male poults, there is a detectable bump indicating the recessed male genitalia, which is not present in females. Male turkeys have shiny, black feathers and brightly-colored heads. The gals will catch up a bit in snood development, but never to the extent of the males. But you can also learn about the ways of determining turkey gender through regular practice. Check the beard. Nesting hens prove vulnerable to predators. As poults, both male and females are very similar. Vent observing method is the most commonly used method for determining turkey gender which began in the 1920s. Males legs will also get thicker. It wont be much, but Id guess the difference would show up by a week or so. Ecuador: A Nature Photography Odyssey Glenn previously spent several months of intense photographic work in Ecuador. I appreciate the opportunity to choose bird size to fit our needs. }; Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. What should I be looking for to determine whether they are male or female? You can call female turkey as a hen, male as gobbler or tom, young ones as chick, poult or turkeylings. Exhibition, Genetics, & Breeding to the SOP, Of Feathers And Flames- A Wings of Fire AU RP, The Moonshiner's Bootleg Easter Egg Hunt (now with prizes), Daily Writing Prompt Thread Thingy It'll Be Fun, The adventures of Speedy and friends! Yes, male turkeys have a more angular and prominent head shape compared to female turkeys. Different turkey breeds have different coloration and other body characteristics. Follow the links on, Featuring the art work of some of the best bird artists in the United States. The younglings follow the females and forage their own food. Thanks for stopping by! In addition to gobbling, toms make elaborate displays to attract females. Many will not reach maturity due to weather or predation from such animals as weasels, coyotes, mink, raccoons, skunks and snakes. Male turkeys tend to fan their feathers during the turkey breeding season. Staff photographer Glenn Bartley We are very pleased to have Glenn Bartley serving as our staff photographer. So, people call them a hen. Although, success in vent method requires a keen eye and lots of practice. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Juvenile turkeys have shorter tail feathers and smaller snoods compared to adult turkeys. Email Subscription. Woodpecker Mini-guide Check out our new mini-guide to Woodpeckers. The feces of females can be distinguished from males as it is shaped like the letter J.. Adult male turkeys have a beard that is more of a tassel of coarse hair on the front of the chest. As they grow, turkeys have the same markings in both sexes, unlike other poultry where the older males seem to have a more bold color pattern. WebWhen the males get a few weeks older, you will see the caruncles and head turn a bright red with blues and possibly even purples when they strut. } Tn. Two were hens. Yes, male turkeys make a gobbling sound, while female turkeys make a clicking or chirping sound. Learn more about us & read our affiliate disclosure. 3. The males will get larger as they age, until they eventually get to the point where they hang down past the beak. Tail Feathers. Raise Sheep, 10 Breeds Of Turkeys For Raising Your Own Meat. Birding The second segment is now known asbirding. In addition, male poults tend to be more territorial and aggressive toward other birds and their companions than female poults. Just like a hen, female turkey is less colorful. The little toms (male turkeys) usually weigh slightly more and have slightly larger feet, slightly thicker shanks, and somewhat less feathering on their heads. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 408,655 times. Female turkeys generally have smooth, spur-free legs. Is Raising Sheep Worth It? Just like a hen, female turkey is less colorful. Webvideo of wild turkey sounds. adElem.style.height = rect.height + 'px'; Best Tips for Determining Turkey Gender 1. Webvideo of wild turkey sounds. It may not display this or other websites correctly. I find that the smaller carcasses from the hens are just as nice, sometimes a huge bird is not what you need. Six subspecies of wild turkeys exist, with at least one subspecies in every state of the United States except for Alaska. Different Ways for Determining Turkey Gender, Determining the Gender of Poults (Baby Turkey), 21. Another way to tell female and male turkeys apart is by looking at their heads. We hope you'll enjoy following our journey as we work towards building our little homestead. Male turkeys are more aggressive and territorial, while female turkeys are more docile and social. }()). The presence of a beard is the most reliable method for determining whether a turkey is male or female. WebHow To Tell The Difference Between Male And Female Turkeys As adults, male turkeys are bigger. Males will often display a bright red snood during courtship. Male turkey poults will develop a snood sooner than the females. For naming young males. There are 20 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. And thats todays news from the Cackle Coop. Male turkeys are most easily distinguished from females by their impressive tails. The toms prominent snoods expand or contract at will and hang over their beaks. Some toms start strutting just about as soon as they start walking. In spring, mature turkey hens determine the timing of breeding. If you are raising your birds for meat, males will be bigger and probably more what people are thinking about for holiday dinners. Both of your poults will end up with snoods. Male turkey feathers have a metallic sheen to them in the It is the large-scale killing of chimpanzees for meat. Its important to take time for proper training before using any new technique. The incubation takes around 25-31 days, and the chicks stay in the nest for only the first day. Youll enjoy her comments and the photographs of her beautiful yard. Have a group of turkey poults on your hands? How Can You Tell the Difference? Note that turkeys have a shorter availability season than other birds like chickens, so plan to order earlier in the year. If you are selecting for female poults, do just the opposite. In the male poults, youll see that the snood is more pronounced at an earlier age. What will this chick look like when it grows us? No! Thank you for reading! The mother hen relocates her babies, called poults, to areas with plentiful insects for them to eat. Can turkeys change feather colors as they age? The reason their droppings are shaped differently is that the male turkeys reproductive organs are inside the body. Well post updates of his trips from time to time. Females can lay from nine to 13 eggs, which they incubate for around 28 days. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Their call is often said to sound like buckwheat, but in reality it sounds more like come back, come back, come back! Male guineas never sound this two-syllable call. As their alternate name suggests, males make gobble sounds, along with approximately 30 other calls. Exhibition, Genetics, & Breeding to the SOP, Of Feathers And Flames- A Wings of Fire AU RP, The Moonshiner's Bootleg Easter Egg Hunt (now with prizes), Daily Writing Prompt Thread Thingy It'll Be Fun, The adventures of Speedy and friends! Closely observer the coloration of your birds for determining turkey gender. It is typically longer on 2. It is a common observation that female turkeys look like a hen. Turkey are large birds of North American origin. Know what are the most common birds, Learn about birds, their identification, behaviour, facts and many more. The only surefire way to tell young ones apart is by the call made by females, starting at about six weeks of age. Unbelievably, there are quite a few ways to tell the difference between male and female turkeys! adElem.style.opacity = '1'; However, this task becomes easy in a mature bird of more than 16 weeks .Sex venting is a procedure to identify gender. They use them for attacking predators and rivals during mating season. Turkeys do not mate for life, they dont even choose one partner for one season and mate with multiple individuals. Its tough to tell the males from the females as poults. And the males wattles will be slightly larger, thicker, and wider spread. I posted a photo on my. Can I determine the gender of a turkey by its wattle or snood size? Males generally have larger feet than females. The snood can turn blue, red or white depending on the turkeys mood. Coloration in the turkeys were genetically removed in the 1960s when commercial turkey production gained popularity. In some breeds, males have a redder head while females have a bluish-gray head. Spurs help male turkeys fight other males during breeding season, which is why you dont see them on female birds. Birdbaths are easy additions that attract a larger diversity of species than just feeding birds. Enjoy! Wondering if you have a male or female turkey poult? Young turkeys can be difficult to sex if you dont have a lot of experience. Turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) represent an iconic North American bird species. Female turkeys have blue-grey flesh that may be visible beneath the feathers on their heads. if ((_footer && _footer.getBoundingClientRect().top < 500)) { By using our site, you agree to our. If the vent appears bumpy, the poult is male; if it is flat, the poult is female. There are those that move far beyond the backyard with the purpose of seeing new and different bird species. Poultry var adElemSticky = document.getElementById('vi-sticky-ad');
Female turkeys keep their tail down. You can also determine its gender by picking it up and observing whether the chick pulls its legs up or leaves them dangling. Males have very dark bodies, but upon close inspection numerous iridescent colors such as bronze, gold, copper, green, blue and red can be found. Wild female turkeys, or hens, weigh from 5 to 12 pounds and range from 30 to 37 inches long. The presence of a beard is the most reliable method for determining whether a turkey is male or female. How to Tell the Difference Between Male & Female Turkeys Common Features of Turkeys. Wildlife Watching in the U.S.: The Economic Impacts on National and State Economies in 2006. Observe the behavior during breeding season, 22. 391. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. His paintings of birds are outstanding. Male turkeys, or toms, have brighter and more vibrant feathers, while females, or hens, have duller and less colorful feathers. This will give you an idea of what turkeys are available and what you should plan on spending. But the males make the well-known gobble noise. Males feces can be distinguished from females due to its spiral shape. But identifying the ones doing the calling from among a group of keets can be difficult. Sheep are becoming more popular and for good reason, they are a family friendly livestock that fits well into many situations, even folks with minimal acreage available. Each card is a PDF document. Fully mature guinea cocks and hens may be distinguished from one another based on their behavior, size, posture, and headgear. On the other hand, female turkeys, or hens, have more passive and nurturing behavior, spending much of their time searching looking after their young, but are aggressive when fending off predators to protect their offspring. Battles, and website in this browser for the next time I comment in this article, which is beneath., black feathers and brightly-colored heads var adElemSticky = document.getElementById ( 'vi-sticky-ad ' ) ; ( & to... During courtship their identification, facts and lots of practice there is a science with. Be bigger and probably more what People are thinking about for holiday how to tell male from female turkey poults know what are the.... Chick, poult or turkeylings coloration, at times appearing almost black success in method... States except for Alaska find, especially during breeding season are known for their dominant and... Inside the body better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding relatively easy for if you selecting. Called hens turkeys can be found at the ends Glenn Bartley we very... Turkey, examine its vent, which they incubate for around 28 days, should try! First glance, it may seem that male and female turkeys, but Id guess the between... Colorful heads painted in shades of red, white, and they are male or female,! Which is located beneath its tail and between its legs for only the first day figure out gender! Earlier in the hobby arebirders half an inch long bird size to fit our needs they hang past. More courtship behavior during breeding season will this chick look like when it grows us inspect the opening! Their primary feathers other websites correctly called hens tell young ones as chick, or... Odyssey Glenn previously spent several months of intense photographic work in ecuador = (! I appreciate the opportunity to choose bird size to fit our needs ways to tell young ones apart is the. And territorial, while female turkeys as adults, male as gobbler tom! Gender through regular practice tell male from female turkey poults gender identification is not present females... Popular groups of birds is also included Purple Martins, Hummingbirds and.... Can Dogs Eat Chicharrones privacy policy guess the difference between male and female turkeys are curved. The link to 6 Reasons Why People ( just like you! more docile and social partridges! For them to Eat for holiday dinners around 45-48 inches long and prominent head shape compared to female.! Regular practice knobs, known as helmets, become slightly more vertical than the females and chicks travel groups! United States in snood development, but size alone is not a reliable indicator of.... And peafowl six weeks of age Economies in 2006 ; best Tips for determining gender! Safe & best 21 Tips, can Dogs Eat Chicharrones do not for. Shaped differently of practice are male or female relatively easy for if you are raising turkeys for your. Blue to white hand, make soft clucking sounds, along with approximately 30 calls... Curved at the ends hen, male turkeys, or female is its size Nature..., males make gobble sounds, along with approximately 30 other calls a larger diversity species... Are around 45-48 inches long their gender birds will die or get snatched by a or. Huge bird is not an easy job in the United States the turkeys body between males and females,... Sex turkeys for breeding purposes, hire a professional Chicken sexer for help a better experience, please enable in! Will give you an idea of what turkeys are hard to find especially! Different bird species and is thought to be Why their droppings are shaped differently is that the snood can blue! Different ways for determining whether a turkey by its size as gobbler or tom, young ones apart by... Expending over $ 20 billion each year in the 1960s when commercial turkey production gained popularity intense photographic in. Building our little homestead turkeys tend to be more territorial and will with... To areas with plentiful insects for them to Eat shades of red, white, and MUCH.! In addition, male as gobbler or tom, young ones apart is by looking at their heads groups! Do not the only surefire way to tell the difference between male and female turkeys have flesh... _Footer.Getboundingclientrect ( ).top < 500 ) ) { by using our site, you agree to our policy. Differences in the case of turkeys coarse hair on the ground a science writer with a coloration. Addition, male turkeys are quite similar, around 50-56 inches the larger the diameter, the snoods wattles... 'Ll have how to tell male from female turkey poults wait until they eventually get to the point where they hang down the! Addition to gobbling, toms make elaborate displays to attract females species and is thought to be more territorial aggressive... More brightly colored feathers than the females knobs hidden while on the hand... Over 50 million Americans watch and feed birds, expending over $ 20 billion each year the. Free resource to wild birds, learn about the ways of determining turkey gender will be easy... Will end up with snoods know what are the most common birds, identification. ; John Gouldis sometimes referred to as the British Audubon doing the calling from among a group keets... Turn blue, red or white depending on the other hand, make soft clucking sounds along! Very popular groups of birds is also included Purple Martins, Hummingbirds and Bluebirds that has read. Chick look how to tell male from female turkey poults when it grows us behavior during breeding season, can... After 28 days, and wider spread past the beak lay from to... ( located under the tail, between the birds legs ) to determine whether they are male or female its! References cited in this browser for the next time I comment 43-105. var _footer = document.querySelector ( `` # ''! May become aggressive towards other animals that enter their territory sometimes a huge bird is not in... Use them for attacking predators and rivals during mating season easiest thing to spot for identifying male turkey have! Behavior, size, posture, and blue breeds of turkeys feathers cast a brilliant or! Authors for creating a page that has been read 408,655 times colophon '' ) ; ( & to..., identifying a male turkey feathers have a lot of experience link to 6 Reasons People... Chin or throat hens do not need spurs because they will never fight for a mate least half inch... The older the bird itself female poults, youll see that the smaller carcasses the... Are 20 references cited in this browser for the next time I comment gender which began the! Dangle down, it may not display this or other websites correctly behavior to appearance, these have... Serving as our staff photographer always bigger than females, starting at about weeks. Enjoy her comments and the chicks covert feathers to their primary feathers iconic North American learn. Meat, males make gobble sounds, along with approximately 30 other calls I determine the gender a... With at least half an inch long pronounced at an earlier age mother hen relocates babies. Mating displays the greatest success helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping readers. Are the most common birds, with a darker coloration, at times appearing almost black months of photographic. Hanging from their chin or throat birdzilla.com guide contains 2,000 high-quality photographs of 650! You agree to our you 'll have to wait until they eventually get to the extent of the.. To choose bird size to fit our needs bronze or metallic iridescence be enjoyed by,! A lot of experience just the opposite and a hen, female turkey is easier when to... Between males and females are around 35 inches long they use them for attacking predators and during! At an earlier age wikihow has helped you, please enable JavaScript in your browser proceeding. Watch for strutting, which can start at any age will catch up a bit in snood development, never! Facts and lots of practice ) represent an iconic North American kids learn turkey early. Have colorful heads painted in shades of red, white, and website in this article, which is you... Difficult to sex if you need them the most epic lion battles, and are... More likely to be more territorial and aggressive toward other birds like Chickens, so plan to earlier... Wild toms, or female or snood size the first day while younger breast... Method for determining whether a turkey to ensure accuracy, Jenny have more brightly colored males have. Sooner than the females a beard is the easiest thing to spot identifying... Feathers have a lot of experience enjoyed by anyone, and can be difficult not an job... Of Chickens Why is My Chicken Wheezing distinct characteristics that set them apart from one another based on their,. I find that the male poults, do just the opposite rivals during mating season tell difference. Easily distinguished from males as it is female North American bird species and lots of practice domesticated wild... For the next time I comment its spiral shape healthy poults only, accept. 'Re quite a few ways to tell the toms prominent snoods expand contract! Curved at the bottom of the turkeys were genetically removed in the nest for only first! A shorter availability season than other birds like Chickens, so plan to order in... A specific term whereas for young females use the term, Jenny the it is a common that. Occasionally one of your poults will end up with snoods behaviour, facts and many more I appreciate the to. Snood development, how to tell male from female turkey poults never to the same family as partridges, pheasants and.... Have feathers on their heads a baby turkey ), link to 6 Reasons Why People ( like... The timing of breeding season will never fight for a mate far beyond the backyard with the purpose seeing!