Turkey beards???
02-12-2010 | 04:36 PM
#11
Nontypical Buck
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,647
Likes: 0
From: Pa
mites eat dead skin, not hair. It is a fungus of some kind, I've killed 2 longbeards with a burnt red paste substance in the beard about midways, which I assume if left long enough would cause the beard to break at the point where the substance was and leave those blonde tips. I've also killed gobblers that were 20+#'s and had a 2" beard with the blonde tips. We've always called this condition "Red Rot" have no idea what causes it.
RR
RR
I really dont think a turkey beard is concidered hair
02-13-2010 | 05:05 AM
#12
Typical Buck
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 836
Likes: 0
From: Jackson, TN
Definitive answer
My vet appears to have been mistaken.
Below are a couple of links where biologist answer the question definitively.
Appears to be from a lack of pigment and/or a nutritional deficiency.
Lovett Williams (biologist that has studied turkeys his whole life) says the discoleration is caused by a pigment deficiency. The like to the Mississippi Department of Wildlife states it is due to a nutritional deficiency and definitely not mites, fungus, or freezing weather.
http://www.carellc.us/beardrot.asp
http://www.mdwfp.com/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=45634
http://turkeyandturkeyhunting.coverl.../200902/?pg=48
http://www.gonewildoutdoors.com/tech3.html
Below are a couple of links where biologist answer the question definitively.
Appears to be from a lack of pigment and/or a nutritional deficiency.
Lovett Williams (biologist that has studied turkeys his whole life) says the discoleration is caused by a pigment deficiency. The like to the Mississippi Department of Wildlife states it is due to a nutritional deficiency and definitely not mites, fungus, or freezing weather.
http://www.carellc.us/beardrot.asp
http://www.mdwfp.com/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=45634
http://turkeyandturkeyhunting.coverl.../200902/?pg=48
http://www.gonewildoutdoors.com/tech3.html
