Fun Facts

Turkey Trivia 

Turkeys came from the “new world” in the 1500’s and later by English colonists. Ben Franklin wanted the turkey to be the national bird instead of the bald eagle, but that idea never gathered support.

Only males gobble, but only when trying to attract a female, and wild turkeys make 30 different calls. The red flap of skin that hangs down under the chin is called the wattle, which turns bright red when mating. The layer of skin that hangs over onto the beak, called the snood, also turns bright red when the bird is excited.

Baby turkeys are poult, chick, or turklette. The male is the tom and the female is the hen. As soon as 24 hours after birth the poult is up and running looking for food. Domestic toms weigh up to 50 pounds, while the hen weighs up to 16 pounds (Catherine Boeckmann). Domestic turkeys can fly, but they do not like to, while wild turkeys can fly up to 55 miles per hour and they perch in trees at night to be safe. Turkeys prefer to run and they go as fast as 25 miles per hour (Emily Hannemann).

Wild turkeys live 3-4 years eating seeds, nuts, insects, and berries, while domestic turkeys’ life span is 21-26 weeks consuming 75 pounds of feed; however pets can live up to 10 years. Can wild turkeys be eaten? Yes, technically they can, but because of their size preparing them is a tedious, messy job and the meat is dry with a strong and some consider unpleasant flavor. Wild turkeys also carry food illnesses like salmonella, so the domestic turkey is much safer. On the average people consume 15 pounds of turkey a year (PETA).