Bud,as mentioned by BB a small % of hens do have beards that tend to be very thin in comparison to a gobblers.I have harvested a couple that have had beards and hunt one particular flock of birds that always has a hen or two that has a bearded hen in it.I've seen one hen that has a beard around the 8in range and have a good friend of mine that has a hen mounted with a 9in beard in his den.I truly due believe it has to due with genetics and it seems to be coming more common,maybe because the overall population of birds continues to grow!

Monarch isn't a butterfly it's the King of the Spring!