Please Help! (Turkey feather problem)

[BigSkyChickie]

Hi all! Long time lurker here with a semi-emergency. I bought a fresh turkey from a local gentleman and it was covered with small feather stubbs. Pinfeathers, I think? Anyway, I've been pulling them out but about 1/2 of them are leaving about 1/4 inch long black marks under the skin. It seems like pigment. Others seem to have broken off at skin level and if I dig at them or squeeze them they come out. Is there a special trick I need to know? Is the pigment icky? This has been super tedious and I have RA and am really starting to struggle with pain from this. Please, please, can anyone give me advice?

P.S. I'm sorry if this is super idiotic.

 

[Brunty_Farms]

You're fine, best way to get those is to just squeeze it like a zit.... however you're safe to eat the pigment. In the white birds it's clear and not even seen, but for the feathers just use a knife and your thumb. If that doesn't work a pair of needle nose pliers would work just fine for the the stubborn ones.

 

[WhetzelMomma]

What Brunty said.