My turkeys are eating each other’s neck feathers please Help!

[Chicken-lovebirdchihuahua]

hello do as the title says my turkeys are eating each other’s neck feathers and now all my turkeys have pin neck feathers that have dried blood on them and my turkeys are free range they have the highest protein food I could find they are not adults yet they hatched a week before Christmas there are three hens and one gobbler the gobbler doesn’t have pecking because he’s got a mostly naked neck what should I do??? He helps peck the hens and the other hens do it to each other

 

[R2elk]

hello do as the title says my turkeys are eating each other’s neck feathers and now all my turkeys have pin neck feathers that have dried blood on them and my turkeys are free range they have the highest protein food I could find they are not adults yet they hatched a week before Christmas there are three hens and one gobbler the gobbler doesn’t have pecking because he’s got a mostly naked neck what should I do??? He helps peck the hens and the other hens do it to each other

Just because you have been feeding them the highest protein feed that you can find, does not mean it is the right food for them. Proper turkey food isn't just about the protein. It is also about giving them higher amounts of vitamins such as niacin and lysine. Proper turkey food for immature turkeys also contains higher amounts of methionine.

If you cannot find proper turkey food, you can supplement their food with chopped up hard boiled eggs that have had the shell removed. BOSS (black oil sunflower seeds) is a good source for methionine but is also a source high in fat. Adding BOSS to their diet may help but remember that it should be considered as a treat. All treats together should not add up to more than 10% of the total diet.

 

[Chicken-lovebirdchihuahua]

Thanks! I didn’t know that

 

[fairie]

HI my hens pluck out Toms feathers as well (around the neck and backside). Only his. And yes they eat them too, the fluffy ones. I do not understand why. They are on good food and can roam freely in the forest and in the field full of wild herbs, clover and dandelion. They have everything they need.