Turkey winter wear??

[Blisschick]

I've been raising turkeys for several years now, and I've never noticed this before, but I have a couple of hens that have grown a winter "fuzz". Their heads were pretty much naked all through the spring and summer, with the exception of the normal hairs and tiny feathers, but now that it's gotten colder, one hen has grown a thick downy fuzz, even on her wattle, and the other just on her head. They look like they need to shave!

Has anyone else seen this before?

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

Yes ours do it as well, most are just finishing molting and have it. If you catch one and look under the outer feathers you will see the down is thicker this time of year.

Steve

 

[Blisschick]

I guess I never noticed it before because I've never had any that were practically lap turkeys like these two. These two act more like dogs with wanting my personal attention rather than a bunch of bad three-year olds running herd on everything.

With being able to sit with them and observe them, I guess it's more obvious to me now.