Update on the Wild Turkey - he is clearly hand raised and is following us around the yard!!!

[justiceischeap]

35. Some turkey facts

http://www.think-differently-about-sheep.com/Turkey_Facts.htm

Turkeys are affectionate

is associated with spirituality and the honouring of Earth mother. It was believed that shamans were able to turn themselves into turkeys and were thus able to prowl around other villages unrecognised. In the tradition of the Hopi creation myths, a male turkey was the first bird to try to raise the sun in the sky. The turkey is a totem animal and is called the "give away eagle" or "life giver" and is associated with shared blessings such as harvest and fertility.

Turkey have a large vocabulary. Yes that's right! Wild Turkeys have been found to have twenty distinct and specific vocalisations. "They recognise one another by their voices as well as their head characteristics" To turkeys the voices of other turkeys are unique and recognisable"
William Healy quoted in the Inner world of farm Animals by Amy Hatkoff

Turkey Intelligence

Turkeys are more intelligent that you think. Tom Savage is a poultry scientist and animal science professor at Oregon State University and a nationally known researcher. Below is an extraction from an article By Aaron Hougham, Barometer Staff writer explaining research conducted by Tom savage and his colleagues into the behaviour of turkeys.

"He said that one popular misconception is that turkeys are so stupid they will stare at rain until they drown.

He and his colleagues searched for an answer to this phenomenon.

In the early 1990s they discovered a genetic condition called tetanic torticollar spasms. This condition causes some birds to act abnormally, sometimes cocking their heads and starting at the sky for 30 seconds or more.

"It's an example of how a misunderstood animal behavior becomes identified as proof that the animal is extremely lacking in intelligence," Savage said in a recent press release.

Providing another example of their intelligence, Savage had an illustration most college students could relate to.

"If you throw an apple to a group of turkeys, they'll play with it together," he said. "Kind of like football."

Savage asks, "If turkeys are so dumb, then why do they socialize like that?"

To read the full article please click
Turkeys: much smarter than you think

"If I had to sum up my experience with the wild turkey, the most profound thing that I discovered is that they are much more complex in their intelligence, their behavior and their problem- solving ability than I ever imagined. They are sentient beings. By every measure and every definition of intelligence, in their environment and in their world they are without questions much more intelligent than I was. "
Joe Hutto quoted in the Inner world of farm Animals by Amy Hatkoff

On edit: turkeys playing soccer