The presenter was very informative for the children and many of the parents. I, however, had already been doing some research on turkeys and only wanted to talk care specifics with the farmer. She began with discussions of what we need to survive, our habitat. This led into the discovers of what the wild turkeys look for when establishing their homes. Interestingly enough, on our way to Carolyn's house, two wild hens (female turkeys) ran across the road when we had been driving through a particularly wooded area. She explained the bravery on the hens in their job to hatch out turkeys and how the males, called gobblers or toms, just like to prance all day long.
She had brought her pet turkey Ron to show the children. Ron had been raised by hand since birth and at three years of age, was quite docile and accepted the children inspecting him. Ron is a Spanish Black or sometimes just called Black turkey. This breed is considered very critical, only 200 alive. Black Turkeys, along with Bourbon Reds and Narragansetts are heritage breeds which means closer to native wild turkeys, will breed naturally, and hatch out their eggs. When the presenter found out I was interested in keeping some turkeys, she began trying to convince me to go with the Blacks because of their closeness to extinction. She tried to persuade me by the numbers, there are 500 Bourbon Reds, but when I simply said, "I am from Kentucky." She smiled and said "That is why and you understand."
The children could touch all the feathers, three kinds for warmth and show, neck, head, beak. They could not touch his snood as it is very ticklish for him. After all the children had a chance to warm their fingers in the soft down, Ron was able to get down and strut in his pen. Since he had been such a good sport, Isabella was able to give him a cereal snack, raw wheat, cracked corn, oats, and split soybeans.
Why did Thomas Jefferson think the turkey should be the country's bird? Turkeys can see black, white, and red. The red allows toms to spot other toms in a distance. Turkeys are native to the US and Thomas Jefferson had turkeys on his farm when the British, Red Coats, came to his house. The toms, seeing the red, saw the British as other gobblers that were invading their territory and attacked the soldiers. Mr. Jefferson said this was proof the British were not welcome on this land and the birds had some fight in them. Ultimately he lost his request to the majestic Bald Eagles.
When I relayed the events to Karl, he now is also trying to get me to cave on the Bourbon Reds verses the Blacks. It is going have to be more convincing because I have too much KY blood still running through my veins. Also, the meat of the Bourbon Red is suppose to be far superior to all but the midget whites which I am not considering at all. As a Kentucky native, I feel as if it is my duty to keep some of my heritage alive. I think this acknowledgement is why the presenter backed off as soon as she knew my home of origin.
