What is causing my toms to look like that?!?!

[Farmerboy16]

These are my first turkeys, and I got them as day olds last year. It started in late winter, I at first thought that they were looking out of the window too much, and rubbing on the windowsill. but their tails looks like it went through a wood chipper.

Is it from fighting? I free range them. I can't wait until when they moult!

Thanks for any help on this.

 

[bryan99705]

Mites?

 

[Farmerboy16]

Quote:
They do not have mites, but lice. I am going to treat them for that tomorrow.

 

[ScaredOfShadows]

mites or poultry lice - they pretty much do the same thing and that damage looks to be definately caused by one of the two.

 

[Hoss1975]

Quote:
They do not have mites, but lice. I am going to treat them for that tomorrow.

If they had mites you wouldn't be able to see them.

 

[zazouse]

They are molting

 

[Farmerboy16]

Quote:
You are joking right?

Its not even fall yet.

 

[AdrieeC]

My Chickens molted in summer last year, so I suppose it could also happen early in turkeys. Are these burbon red? I love them. I would love to have a couple but they are hard to find in my area,and I don't know what I would do with 15 that I would have to buy from a hatchery.

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

Treating them for the lice should help a lot.


But, do you have mice? I have a few chicken coops (ok 7 coops) and one coop has a mouse problem - the problem is the mice snip feathers off of my sleeping birds to line their nests! Took me a bit to figure it out - did not understand until I moved the coop and found the nest of snipped chicken feathers and baby mice.

The mice snipped from chest/saddle/tail feathers.

 

[zazouse]

no not joking i have all kinds of birds that are different ages and molt at different times of the year.

How old are they a year? if so have they ever molted before?