Since the death of their father, the juvenile turkeys have been searching all over for him. They have even started going across the road and have expanded their search territory to include all of the surrounding land.
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| Easter |
Easter, as we called our broad breasted Bronze tom meat turkey, had gotten too heavy keep up and was in a tizzy. He had injured a leg jumping off a perch a while back and his limping around and plaintive calls were just too much to bear any longer. So yesterday we had him butchered. We hated to but it had to be done. He has been such a good father/mother to the little ones since their mother was killed by a coyote. Poor Easter had been the target for our new Barred Rock Rooster and just the other day Floyd Jr. decided to challenge him for control of the flock.
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| Floyd Junior |
It was both comical and horrifying to watch. Poor Easter acted like he couldn't believe the little guy was attacking him and did his best to avoid injury without hurting the little tom. Luckily one of the other little toms and Mrs. T cane to his rescue. They chased and scolded Jr. until he gave up all thoughts of domination. I had never paid much attention to the turkey flock until Floyd's death. I have learned a few things and no longer believe that turkeys are as stupid as people say. They have a social order and evidently care for each other too. I know Easter has protected the little ones when their own father wouldn't. He cared for them just like their own mother did. Who would have thought that a tom turkey would do that? And they weren't even related. Oh and the two Lavender Guineas in the top photo are part of the juvenile turkey flock. After the death of their mother, we had to cage them up for a couple of weeks and the little Guineas were the same size so we put them all together. Hence they now believe they are turkeys too. They were also under Easter's protection and care. They used to love to crawl under him for warmth or to hide from the chickens they were harassing. Hence the wrath of Jack was incurred on Easter.
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| Jack |
We also had Mrs. T butchered as she had no control over the juveniles and missed Floyd terribly too. We also plan on selling 3 of the 7 juveniles before winter. We just don't have room for all of them. I also had my 4 remaining American Chinchilla\ Flemish Giant rabbit bucks butchered. I have retained one for breeding purposes.
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| Big Red |
I hated to get rid of these lovable guys but again no room and I did not need so many. I am now down to 9 rabbits including my Darling Duo.
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| sisters Suzy II & Fuzz Ball |
The geese and ducks may also be slated for the freezer.
Last week I sold my 5 remaining Coturnix Quail. Now I have only one pair of Jumbo Bobwhite Quail and 2 extra males.
We are searching for a billy goat to breed Fern to this fall and maybe Peaches too.
So we are downsizing and getting ready for the snow to start. In the spring, our adventures in farming will start all over again.
