T is for Turkey

Turkey    noun

Oxford Dictionary definition:  1. large originally American bird bred for food.  2. Its flesh.

Our definition:

  • Turkeys are known to exhibit over 20 distinct vocalisations.  Including a distinctive gobble, produced by males, which can be heard a mile away.
  • Individual turkeys have unique voices. This is how turkeys recognise each other.
  • Turkeys are intelligent and sensitive animals that are highly social. They create lasting social bonds with each other and are very affectionate, rather similar to dogs.
  • Turkeys have outstanding geography skills. They have the ability to learn the precise details of an area over 1,000 acres in size.
  • Like peacocks, male turkeys puff up their bodies and spread their elaborate feathers to attract a mate.
  • Baby turkeys (poults) flock with their mother all year.  Although wild turkeys roost in the trees, as poults are unable to fly for the first couple of weeks of their lives, the mother stays with them at ground level to keep them safe and warm until they are strong enough to all roost up in the safety of the trees.
  • Wild turkeys are able to fly at up to 55 mph for short distances. Most domestic turkeys however are unable to fly due to being selectively bred to be larger than would be suitable in wild circumstances.
  • The male is substantially larger than the female, and his feathers have areas of red, purple, green, copper, bronze, and gold iridescence. Female feathers are duller overall, in shades of brown and grey.
  • The area of bare skin on a turkey’s throat and head vary in colour depending on its level of excitement and stress.  When excited, a male turkey’s head turns blue, when ready to fight it turns red.

For the rest of the T page, click here; for the whole vegan dictionary click here 😀

I like birds

It’s time you met the beautiful birds of Raystede Centre for Animal Welfare!  Raystede rescues and re-homes chickens.  They have a lovely big garden to live in filled with places to play and have fun or rest and relax.  As well as chickens they have two magnificent turkeys who inspire awe wherever they go.

Photo8361

What are you looking at?Photo8347Come closer. I want to see what it tastes like.

Photo8344

Maybe you could take a picture of me looking to the right? I think my left side is my better side. What do you think? Don’t  I have beautiful eyes?

Photo8341

If you just come a little bit closer… that’s great.

Photo8337

Are you still here? I thought you’d be gone by now.

 

http://www.raystede.org/news/chicken-rescue/