Turkey feathers & molting

[emmahannah]

When a turkey molts are their hind/tail feathers replaced also? I'm wondering because our two Bourban Red toms both have broken off tail feathers and they look terrible. We are showing in 4H in about 3 weeks and I thought these feathers may come back in but now I'm not sure. Should we only have one Tom to prevent this? I think they fought and the feathers got broken while they were in their pen. Their pen is large enough so I don't think it was due to lack of space.

Thanks!!

[millipede]

I wish Jackie still posted on here. She's got a bit of turkey experience.
3 weeks? I'm not sure how fast they molt, or even if your birds would be molting now. But I believe(could be wrong) that all the feathers will molt. That only makes sense to me but it's not something I've studied at all.......
I'll go bother jackie on facebook and see if I can't get her to reply over here...

[MillieEnglish]

Hey there - Yep their tail feather molt too thank goodness! Between the wire in my pens and the rats it was nearly impossible to keep my turkeys' tails perfect for show season. I didn't have any toms that fought, but I'm sure it's possible that's how they broke. If they are already molting, they should be losing them soon. Depending how far along they are, they might finish in 3 weeks. My turkey hasn't even started molting yet, but we had a heat wave this week so I'm sure that will start her off.