Turkeys are lovely animals. Like the ugly ducking story of old, they start out as gangly nose knobbed, long necked fluff balls on stilty legs. The five Standard Whites we purchased at the feed store certainly fit the description, but they quickly warmed us up with their curiosity and eagerness to greet us each day. They would peep and whistle and run to a wiggly finger and settle for being picked up, unlike the Cornish chicks who cheep and scatter when we do chores. Once out of the pen we let them roam around the house and yard. They’d follow us while weeding or raking or meander and forage for bugs while we worked. However, once they denuded the geraniums and started camping outside the back slider door, pecking to come into the house, we knew it was time for them to go to the pasture.
So now the five have a movable pen that allows access to clean fresh grass and protection from predators and the elements. They can forage for part of the day then head back to the pen for siesta time. They greet us with jumps and flapping and look like hyper 5 year olds on a candy binge when they see us hit the field for chores. A true delight to behold.
In addition to the Whites, we have 45 younger turkeys that will make the transition to the field in 3-4 weeks. We have 25 Broad Breasted Bronze, as well as a variety of heritage breeds. The BBB’s are the larger (older by a week) chicks in the picture. They arrived by mail and have been just as enthusiastic as the first set. Turkeys are very curious and inquisitive and will busy themselves as they natter and explore their surroundings. As chicks, they will explore-explore-explore, then they drop in their tracks and sleep like the dead. We were a little worried when we’d peek into the brooder and see 3-4 little bodies, seemingly inert, scattered in the pen. But then, as I’d reach in to collect the dead, they’d pop up, shake the sleep off and scamper around. I can’t tell you how many times I was fooled.
We’ll start taking turkey orders for these birds and deliver a finished bird in November. Grass fed, pasture raised, playfulness and curiosity intact.
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