Thursday, November 25, 2021 (December’s fullest moon [“Cold Moon”] rises on the 18th.)
Happy Thanksgiving again! It’s here at last, surprising me with an emerging idea. I want to find a turkey, not to cook but to have as a pet.
The couple of times I’ve started small chicken flocks, I’ve wanted to include a turkey. I’ve avoided doing so, having been led to understand that turkeys are aggressive toward chickens. I’ve been advised against keeping turkeys and chickens together.
Recently a customer, buying a large bag of chicken feed and checking out at my register, mentioned she’d be feeding a live turkey. That made me uncomfortable but interested, and I asked if her family planned to “have that turkey” for Thanksgiving dinner. She shook her head, “Nope, she’s always been a family pet.”
“Where do you keep her?”
“With the chickens.”
“Is she aggressive toward them?”
Again, she shook her head, “She’s very sweet and gets along well with chickens. She loves people.”
Only this morning have I recognized how that brief exchange impacted me. While thinking about what to write this day and recalling that customer’s words, I’m suddenly wishing to add a baby turkey among my small chicken flock.
My flock of seven chick babies turned out to include two roosters. They’re big, beautiful, and have me in a learning process. The dominate rooster is sweet, hasn’t tried to attack me. The other hasn’t shown aggressiveness toward the dominate bird. Everyone seems getting along well. I do watch closely both roosters, to ensure they’re not fighting, and hope both may continue living in the flock.
I’ve wondered what to do if they begin fighting, causing harm to one another. The common option is re-homing one of the roosters. But I’d seek a way to keep the bird.
Like Old Welsummer hen, living in my garage for the past few months and doing well. She’s in a spacious cage with deep straw bedding, has a perch, heating-light, and eats well.
For a needy rooster, I could set up a similar cage. Could do this, too, after finding a turkey hen. At first, giving her a safe place to grow big enough for adding to the chicken flock. It would serve a second time if her presence among chickens doesn’t work out happily.
I’m among the elderly who’re “into more learning”. Today, I read that a now 89-year-old man recently returned to college and realized his dream of achieving a Ph.D. in physics.
Enjoy his story: https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2021/11/25/retired-doctor-earns-physics-doctorate-age-89/
Dear Friends: Thankful for you, wishing you all, Very Happy Thanksgivings! Love, Diana
Diana's Morning Blog 