Benjamin Franklin once wrote to his daughter, "....For the truth, the Turkey is in comparison a much more respectable bird, and withal a true original native of America . . . He is besides, though a little vain & silly, a bird of courage...."
I think I am enamored of the turkey. Bourbon Red Turkeys to be exact. A heritage breed. They are indeed quite silly, chirp or peep in loud musical tones, and have enormous eyes for their tiny little head.
In March we received our day old poults and 10 cuckoo maran chicks (chocolate colored egg layers).
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| Day old turkey poults and cuckoo maran chicks (they're the dark ones). |
After a couple of weeks the poults and chicks were transferred to the garage since they had outgrown their cardboard box and frankly, were not the sweetest smelling creatures for our basement. Four weeks later the chicks were sent "to the big house", that is, the chicken coop to join 40+ black astrolorps, Rhode island reds, and americaunas. Unfortunately adult turkeys and chickens should not cohabitate and so we needed to build another coop - a turkey coop. The idea would be a shelter from adverse weather which would be enclosed by an electric netting for ranging. The coop need only serve to overwinter 4-5 turkeys each year. The rest would become meat for our (and our friend's) freezers. In the spring the birds would hopefully produce fertilized turkey eggs which we will incubate and start poults again. If all goes well we could have about 100 poults for the following year. Heritage Bourbon Red Turkeys are scrumptious.
At least that's the dream.
First the coop had to be made. But what to make it out of? Ah.... what do we have plenty of around the farm? Pallets. So begins the saga of creating a turkey coop out of old pallets, leftover metal siding and one inch cage wire.
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| Farmer Husband Gary fixing the base pallet |
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| One inch cage wire and sides going up |
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| Farmer Chris stapling cage wire to base |
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| Sides up and Farmer Husband Gary figuring out roof rafters |
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| Farmer Husband Gary screwing on the metal roof. |
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| Ah.... forgot the green treated skids. Better late than never. |
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| The door works! |
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| Screwing on the metal siding. It's a little dirty but nothing that a little soap and water can't help. |
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| Farmer Chris and the Gator moving the the coop to its final destination. |
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The electric netting was inserted with some additional metal T-post for strength & the turkeys were let out.
Not sure what to make of this green stuff underfoot..... |
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So this is what you were working on.....
"Thanks Farmer Chris and Farmer Husband Gary...it's perfect....gobble, gobble." |
By mid October or early November the turkeys should be a good weight. Yet I already know that it will be difficult taking these guys and gals to the processors. They are so funny. They follow me around the yard and stop and listen to me when I speak. So adorable. Stay tuned for the adventures of the turkeys.....
