I have been wondering do turkeys lose thier beards the reason I am asking is because in the winter I put out all kind's of food for birds,deer rabbits etc in my backyard and the turkeys hang around now in this group there are 2 that are huge stand out from the rest and I know they are both toms because I have seen them while hunting and the one has 4 all white wing feathers on one side and the other has a limp when he walk's and when I seen them while hunting they both had about 8 to 10 inch beards but I noticed that when they came into the back yard the other day thier beards are gone and that not one turkey out there had one and out of a group of 75 that would be unlikely not one tom or jake

not supposed to, however sometimes their beards to get frozed to limbs, or many other reasons. there is also some type of beard rot they can get that causes the beard to break off. I'm sure someone else on this board can answer more in detailed, Bosstom?

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I would have to agree with the previous two posts.......here in VA you can see a difference...I have the priveledge of hunting here in the SW mountains and also take a trip to Eastern Va towards the coast where the snow and ice a little less common and usually the Eastern birds have thicker longer beards.....

In our line of work, we must be able to play Dixie and the Battle Hym of the Republic, With Equal Enthusiasm.

We also have a couple that have lost thier beards . I was wondering if they grow back or not .
I saw a hen today with about a six inch beard maybe one of them could get a loan from her .LOL I'll try to get a picture to post because she is around all the time .

Thank's I talked to a dnr officer and he said the same thing it just seem's wierd that both tom's have lost thier beards or that not one in that bunch has a beard,I watched them again tonight and then they roosted up in our big pine's Thanks again