Turkeys

November 16, 2004

That is a great story!

kelly

Terry Somerson <terry wrote:

I just have to jump in here with my turkey story.

About 18 months ago, right around Easter, I walked into my kitchen early one

morning, made a cup of coffee, sat down at the table to enjoy the quiet before

my son woke up, and then got a weird feeling that I was not alone. Staring at

me through a large window that looked out on the deck was a wild turkey. I

lived in a rural area but my house was actually in a little subdivision, on

about an acre of land surrounded by woods. I went out on the deck and the turkey

retreated to the railing, watching me the whole time. She (I decided it was a

she because she was pretty small) made a sort of honking/squawking sound at me,

but stayed pretty close. I wondered where the rest of her group was -- I

assumed wild turkeys stayed together in flocks -- but I figured she had wandered

in from the woods and would soon be gone. But later that day I noticed she was

strolling around my yard. Over the course of the next couple of weeks she would

show up in the early morning, check out the kitchen

window, sit on the deck, wander around, and generally hang out with me, my

dogs, my cats, my son, and my husband. She was companionable, staying close by

if I worked in the garden or sat out on the deck. At night she would sit on the

peak of the roof of my house or high up in a tree. Well, that darn turkey hung

around for six months, and was on my deck the day we moved out of the house. A

year later, I still miss that silly bird. We were moving only about five miles,

to a secluded house on about eight acres of land, and in a moment of insanity I

really considered catching the turkey and transporting her to our new property.

But I listened to the voice of reason -- my husband -- and realized it would be

wrong to mess around with nature. I left her behind.

I started a new job a few months ago and my route to work takes me past a turkey

farm. I always noticed the farm's sign but never really thought about what was

actually going on there. Then one day I idly turned my head as I drove by, and

noticed all the little bobbing heads in the screened windows of the barn. I was

horrified and thought immediately of my little wild turkey and how intelligent

and sensitive she seemed to be. I was really haunted by the image of those

turkeys in the barn's window. And now, every morning when I drive by, I

pointedly look away so I don't have to see those little birds. I can't help

thinking about the turkey who came to visit me and stayed for six months.

I hate the commercial that Whole Foods is running now to advertize their

" delicious " turkeys. I hate the fact that people eat these delightful animals,

and that it's so much a part of the cultural heritage and history of our

country. I simply cannot understand how people can look at such a beautiful and

vital creature and think of a lump of flesh in a roasting pan. I love the spirit

behind Thanksgiving, and I enjoy cooking and serving my own colorful, creative

vegetarian meal, but I am so sad about the killing of the turkeys. I try to do

my part to talk -- gently -- about some of the issues with my nonvegetarian

friends and family, and I realize that every little bit helps. But I'll never

forget that morning when I walked into my kitchen and noticed that scrawny

little face staring at me through my window.

I'm sorry for the long ramble. I'm going to check out the Farm Sanctuary

program.

Terry

-

teresa aldrich

Saturday, November 13, 2004 10:42 AM

adopt a turkey

What a great idea for those of us that have land. What kind of

companions do turkeys make? I thought the toms can be a bit aggressive?

If they are peaceful I would like to do this.

Teresa in rural Missouri

November 17, 2004

This is from another site that I to. I think everyone here would enjoy this so I put this out for you guys to read :

Be Well.

Lynda

About 18 months ago, right around Easter, I walked into my kitchen early one morning, made a cup of coffee, sat down at the table to enjoy the quiet before my son woke up, and then got a weird feeling that I was not alone. Staring at me through a large window that looked out on the deck was a wild turkey. I lived in a rural area but my house was actually in a little subdivision, on about an acre of land surrounded by woods. I went out on the deck and the turkey retreated to the railing, watching me the whole time. She (I decided it was a she because she was pretty small) made a sort of honking/squawking sound at me, but stayed pretty close. I wondered where the rest of her group was -- I assumed wild turkeys stayed together in flocks -- but I figured she had wandered in from the woods and would soon be gone. But later that day I noticed she was strolling around my yard. Over the course of the next couple of weeks she would show up in the early morning, check out the kitchen window, sit on the deck, wander around, and generally hang out with me, my dogs, my cats, my son, and my husband. She was companionable, staying close by if I worked in the garden or sat out on the deck. At night she would sit on the peak of the roof of my house or high up in a tree. Well, that darn turkey hung around for six months, and was on my deck the day we moved out of the house. A year later, I still miss that silly bird. We were moving only about five miles, to a secluded house on about eight acres of land, and in a moment of insanity I really considered catching the turkey and transporting her to our new property. But I listened to the voice of reason -- my husband -- and realized it would be wrong to mess around with nature. I left her behind.I started a new job a few months ago and my route to work takes me past a turkey farm. I always noticed the farm's sign but never really thought about what was actually going on there. Then one day I idly turned my head as I drove by, and noticed all the little bobbing heads in the screened windows of the barn. I was horrified and thought immediately of my little wild turkey and how intelligent and sensitive she seemed to be. I was really haunted by the image of those turkeys in the barn's window. And now, every morning when I drive by, I pointedly look away so I don't have to see those little birds. I can't help thinking about the turkey who came to visit me and stayed for six months. I hate the commercial that Whole Foods is running now to advertise their "delicious" turkeys. I hate the fact that people eat these delightful animals, and that it's so much a part of the cultural heritage and history of our country. I simply cannot understand how people can look at such a beautiful and vital creature and think of a lump of flesh in a roasting pan. I love the spirit behind Thanksgiving, and I enjoy cooking and serving my own colorful, creative vegetarian meal, but I am so sad about the killing of the turkeys. I try to do my part to talk -- gently -- about some of the issues with my nonvegetarian friends and family, and I realize that every little bit helps. But I'll never forget that morning when I walked into my kitchen and noticed that scrawny little face staring at me through my window. I'm sorry for the long ramble. I'm going to check out the Farm Sanctuary program.