About six months ago we ordered five turkeys... baby turkeys through the mail. Three white broad breasted and two black. They are adorable. When you get turkeys you have to teach them to eat and drink. We hand raise our turkeys. Every day I would go out talk to them and hold them. This way they aren't afraid of us and live a happy life.
About the time we got our chicks, a stray turkey showed up on our back porch. A wild turkey had walked through our property the day before but kept on walking. This one stayed. We thought it was a male and named it Kerouac for the writer of On the Road. He turned out to be a she but the name stuck.
She let me catch her, we fed her and she blessed us with eggs.
The others continued to grow.
Kerouac continued to stay.
Along the way two of our turkeys died, unknown why... just didn't wake up ...one black, one white.
The last two weeks Tom, our biggest male turkey just couldn't get up any more. He has been being bullied by the Guineas. We separated them but the damage the Guineas had done to Tom was too much. Two nights ago he laid down and died. Gave up.
We fed the last turkeys with corn and bread and whatever else they wanted. Kerouac will stay as a pet... she never fattened up. Mr and Mrs Featherbottom were left.
We loved them and talked with them the last few weeks. They are beautiful birds and I love them.
Today is the day they were going to the butcher. We thanked them for all they are offering and gave hugs all around, caressing their tiny heads to my shoulder.
Time to load them up. There is never an easy way to do it. I just can't let someone else take them in to be butchered. I drove with them (and Dude), the two hours to the only butcher we know that will take birds. This week they only take in turkeys.
Our turkeys are fresh, free range and organic. They are friends of sheep, humans and chickens. Guineas... not so much. We began with five turkeys, gained one along the way and ended up with two for the holiday. Mr and Mrs Featherbottom… once again thank you for the blessings you are about to give our large family. I love you so much.
peace
No comments:
Post a Comment