Turkey question?

[Vince]

My turkey has a black hard spot on its chest. I thought it was a hitchhiker type burr. I picked at it untill it yelped, it wont come off. After further inspection it looks like a black burnt spot. Also some of the other birds pick at it from time to time. What is it? Any ideas. I have been told it was a hen. I think it is a tom. Its snot (or whatever it is) on the top of it's beack is about an inch long now and it is about 13 weeks old.

 

[jenjscott]

The black spot is the beginning of a beard. Some hens can have them, especially white hens. The "snood" will expand and contract. You should soon hear some gobbling if its a tom. They gobble in response to loud or shrill noises. I had construction work going on at the house this spring and mine gobbled all day long!