My turkeys have black marks on their head - is it frostbite or something else?

[OhioTurkeyGirl]

Last night we noticed black marks on the head of our 2 turkeys - there are more on one than the other.



It is very cold here and I wonder if it could be frostbite or if it is something else like fowl pox. I am worried that their shed is too cold and that maybe they haven't gotten enough exercise. It was very cold today so we did not let them out of the shed. They have a small pen approximately 10 ft x 5 ft attached to their shed.

What should we do?

Thanks for the help.

 

[ivan3]

Welcome to BYC.

Are they both male? If so, have you noticed them fighting (sparring)? What sort of fencing is run comprised of? If they have run fencing, and if it is chicken wire, have you observed them pacing along and against it?

Does the shed have adequate ventilation (does it feel humid/dank when you open door)? Our turks have roosted in abominably cold weather (wind chills well below 0°F) and have never suffered from frostbite. Doesn't look like Pox, either. Looks like abrasions. Disinfect with 10:1 water:betadine solution and apply plain Neosporin to affected areas. Not saying it isn't cold related, but even the `snoodliest' tom stuffs his head under a wing to stay warm when the air turns bitter.

 

[casportpony]

Welcome to BYC.

Are they both male? If so, have you noticed them fighting (sparring)? What sort of fencing is run comprised of? If they have run fencing, and if it is chicken wire, have you observed them pacing along and against it?

Does the shed have adequate ventilation (does it feel humid/dank when you open door)? Our turks have roosted in abominably cold weather (wind chills well below 0°F) and have never suffered from frostbite. Doesn't look like Pox, either. Looks like abrasions. Disinfect with 10:1 water:betadine solution and apply plain Neosporin to affected areas. Not saying it isn't cold related, but even the `snoodliest' tom stuffs his head under a wing to stay warm when the air turns bitter.

X2

 

[chicken pickin]

To me it looks like sparring wounds.