RIP Squeaky

I’m so sad – our sick turkey poult has died – poor Squeaky. I think that the warm weather has played a part in “his” recent demise, or perhaps it was just that he didn’t like being on his own. We did try to re-introduce him to the other turkey poults, but they still kept picking on “him”, so we removed him, and he just seemed to lose the will to live. I cried and cried – he was just a turkey to some, but to me he was gorgeous, and he used to talk to me. I guess that I’m not as countrified as I thought I was!

All of the other four bantams and three turkey poults are doing very well – they thoroughly enjoy watermelon rind, celery, cabbage, parsley, apple, shellgrit and crushed grain; and they sure do drink a lot of water.

Update on Squeaky

Squeaky is a  VERY noisy turkey poult, so this morning I picked it up, whereupon it promptly went to sleep in the palms of my hands. It obvoiusly feels safe, and equates me with being its mum. Just as God tenderly cares for His people, he expects us to tenderly care for His Creation.

Shortly afterwards we placed the turkey poults and bantam chickens outside in the sunshine, in a broody hen cage, and Squeaky was placed inside a timber frame with weldmesh over the top, which we usually use to cover the vegetable seedlings. The sunshine is excellent for the young chickens and poults, and especially so for Squeaky, as it will help heal its wounds.

I praise God that we have been able to save this little one – it is just so cute! Just as God tenderly cares for His people, He expects us to tenderly care for His Creation.

Turkey Poults & Bantam Chicks

Today our turkey hen has started hatching her chicks, and they are so lively – my son held the newborn turkey poult in front of him, but next to him so that it couldn’t jump out of his hands. So far she has hatched four turkey poults and two bantam chickens. She is still sitting on all of the other eggs, and some of them have cracks in them, so we are praying that God will grant the increase. Turkey poults are very similar to ducklings when they hatch, especially in colouration.

We have another broody hen, so we intend sitting her on bantam eggs and turkey eggs, especially if the turkey won’t continue to sit. Turkey meat is the most delicious meat that you can eat, and it is also the least allergenic for people with asthma and allergy problems. Did you know that a group of turkeys is called a rafter? Turkeys are frequently used for Thanksgiving and for Christmas in many countries.

Our gobbler is delightful, and he talks with me whenever I see him – scary thought eh, talking to a turkey? He doesn’t like the males in our family, but he is ever so friendly to my daughter and me – perhaps he thinks that we are a part of his rafter. The protuberance from the top of the gobbler’s beak is called a snood, and  our turkey gobbler’s name is “Snood”. He’s ever so cute!