turkey practically naked - it is in the 20's what to do?

[Peaches]

Ok, my Naragansette hen looks like she is going through a HARD moult - and now of all times! It is in low 20's at night and she roosts outside. She has NO feathers on back of neck, belly, under, chest - and loosing the rest. She was SHIVERING today - I finally stuck her in a crate in my garge for the night. What do I do? Might she be sick?

 

[Picco]

I once had a hen (chicken) that went through a bad moult. I fenced off an area in the corner of my coop and hung a heat lamp over it. I avoided straw because of the fire hazard, but provide ample amounts of pine shavings and made a cardboard draft guard along the wire. I also fed her gamebird starter which is high in protein in hopes of increasing feather growth. I kept her in the pen when it was really cold and let her run around the coop when it wasn't. It took a while but she did grow all her feathers back and she has been fine ever since.

 

[dlhunicorn]

They make turkey saddles too...ask for a warmer type material.

 

[seminolewind]

I would put a heat lamp on. Karen

 

[kstaven]

I agree with Picco. If that fails, have you considered taking up knitting?

 

[Peaches]

Seriously I HAVE been thinking about the knitting! she is SOOOO naked. I did buy gamebird feed and have her on that, but she is also not eating a bunch. also going to give her avia charge in her water.

 

[lacyloo]

poor thing needs a sweater

 

[bjcoop]

I have a naked hen too (delaware). She was shivering big time. I put a heat lamp over the roost. She seems to like being in the corner (hiding) so I put it over that area.
I too thought of sweaters and booties (for her cold legs) but the heat lamp works great.
It was in the high teens this morning and she was fine--standing tall (and nearly naked) overseeing the dash for the morning treat.

She's much happier now.
--bjcoop

 

[Peaches]

Well thanks for the replies - I feel a bit better. I'm going to put her out during the day and in the garage (40 degrees there) at night till she AT LEAST gets PINFEATHERS back.