Hey Slee, Was your turkey's beard really like that? Broke off at the breast feathers? So was mine! I had about a 1/2-3/4" beard. Look like someone took scissors, cut it off and burnt the end with a match but I'm sure that's not what happened, lol. I just thought I'd let you know your not alone and was wondering if you had an thoughts about why it was like that besides other turkeys pecking it off from fighting and such.