Feather Cluster?

[Bryverine]

Hello,

I hope this is ok to post here, but with our chickens we have a couple of juvenile turkeys. One turkey, I've noticed, has this small feathery lump on his neck.

Does anyone know what this is and if I should be concerned?

 

[R2elk]

Hello,

I hope this is ok to post here, but with our chickens we have a couple of juvenile turkeys. One turkey, I've noticed, has this small feathery lump on his neck.

Does anyone know what this is and if I should be concerned?

That is the start of its beard.

 

[Wolfefarmyard]

That is the start of its beard.

Yep! That means you’ve got a boy!

 

[FluffbuttMama]

You’ve got a little tom. His beard will get longer as he grows. If the other turkey doesn’t have one you’ve got a hen/Tom pair.

 

[R2elk]

Yep! That means you’ve got a boy!

Not necessarily. Turkey hens can also have beards. I currently have 3 turkey hens that have beards.

 

[Wolfefarmyard]

Not necessarily. Turkey hens can also have beards. I currently have 3 turkey hens that have beards.

That is true! It’s rather uncommon though

 

[R2elk]

That is true! It’s rather uncommon though

It is not as uncommon as you might think. It is common enough that the states that allow spring turkey hunting for toms also allow the taking of bearded hens. With more and more backyard breeders of turkeys, it is even more common among their hens.

 

[Wolfefarmyard]

It is not as uncommon as you might think. It is common enough that the states that allow spring turkey hunting for toms also allow the taking of bearded hens. With more and more backyard breeders of turkeys, it is even more common among their hens.

Hmm, interesting. Well I have yet to encounter a bearded hen.

But thank you for enlightening me!

 

[R2elk]

Hmm, interesting. Well I have yet to encounter a bearded hen.

But thank you for enlightening me!

I have had 5 so far.

 

[memphis]

Here's my bearded hen....