I said to Mad yesterday, in a comment, that the Spanish Black Turkeys are nothing like I thought they would be.
I thought they would quietly slope about like a peacock. Roost in the same place every night like all the other birds.
I thought they would sit in the trees and being such a rare bird I thought they would be sweeter somehow – dare I say prettier. But what turkey could possibly be pretty.
Though they do have a certain charm. I know their sight is bad. If I turn the lights off in the barn before they have found their perches they blunder about bumping into things, rushing headlong INTO buckets and bales of hay or getting caught in corners with no reverse.
They peer at things closely, curious.
Every day they trip when they try to run down the verandah stairs. They fall over each other and peep and shriek as they race each other, wings flying, feet going every which way to catch up.
It can take a full day for one to work out that they need to jump Over the gate to get out – that pacing up and down squawking while trying to force their way Through chicken wire will never work.
They sit in chairs – no perching ON the chairs. Sitting IN them. Or they will set themselves down and sleep exactly where conscious thought left them.
And it is seldom a safe place for a fat bird to sleep.
They stand so close behind me that I am constantly trying to avoid stepping on one.
They scramble about – Grace is not in their vocab – they trip over things and get lost and turn in circles. Literally turn in circles.
Boo just watches from his warm pod with all the gentle sighs of a benevolent Uncle. 
Tima on the other hand runs them off the porch, she does not like competition for her afternoon carrot.
I hope you have a lovely day.
We are getting ready for the weather to dip below freezing this weekend. Not ready. But getting ready.
Love celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
69 responses to “Nothing like I thought they would be”
Such chuckled. You’ve captured the turkey world perfectly. We had wild ones at the farm – nothing like the fat commercial turkey farm ones.
Old style turkeys are the class clowns
I see them on the porch and all I can think about is the turkey poop presents that they are leaving you. Geraldine must feel like Einstein with them. Good for Tima! ha Happy Friday!!! Hopefully, it will warm up quickly after the freeze in the night.
Luckily Turkey poop os small and sweepable unlike peacock poop that is a big glob of black glue!
oh, don’t I know it! Remember when Mr. Flowers laid a huge poop pile on the hood of my car? lol I was shocked at how big it was…looked like a black swirl cone of ice cream without the cone.
I often wondered how long that lasted on there – did your summer sun burn it off or the wind on the drive home..
Kind of makes you wondered how turkeys have survived! 🙂
As always, I absolutely love you pictures!
Ok, make that YOUR pictures! 🙂
Extraordinary birds that I contend are prettier roasted than roosting.
Well an interesting morning with all the turkeys! and laying on the couch! couch potatoes?? love it!! But I love Boo ~ laying ~ snoozing in his tub watching the world go by!! have a good one ~ gotta cover my tomatoes and red and yellow peppers tonight!! not ready for frost!!
Now you are really talking turkey! Love these photos-especially of Boo! Cheers!
Just read your yesterday’s conversation with Mad and now coming here the topic is: Turkeys. Funny. These birds seem to have personality and an extra strong and own will. They want to behave like men in occoupying your porch and seats. Crazy birds – great pics. It’s very interesting too to hear of their behaviour. No, they are not beautiful at all, not only are they baldheaded and numb but seem to be a bit stubborn and dumb too. I think it’s a bit arduous to have such birds, not to mention the cleaning.
Love the shot of Boo in his bright blue blanket. It’s beautiful!
I come from watching the movie that Mad Dog has recommended in his yesterday’s comments. I think I must take back my quick and – yes – not very lovely judgement. Maybe your birds are just special (not numb, dumb or else). – Oh, and now I feel a bit guilty to eat those birds…
Ha ha – the poor things look quite majestic in a vulture like way 😉
Turkeys
I think the TURKEY inspired the saying “Bird Brained”….. My grandparents raised white ones and yes, they would tilt their head up if it started raining and would drown. My father will testify to that because he was the person in charge of them and the chickens. The chickens would always run for cover in the rain but not the stupid turkeys. I was hoping your heritage breed would be a better choice.
Love BOO’s picture.
My sentiments exactly. All of them.
I love Boo’s pic too 🙂
I laughed that it’s your only turkey tom who likes the couch… so along as he doesn’t ask you to grab him the TV remote and a beer from the fridge!
Just a heads-up: don’t be surprised if a pig takes a chunk out of a live turkey. It’s pretty awful when it happens. 😦
This post made me laugh out loud. Turkeys can be such a silly lot. My husband raises pheasants for a living, and they are a constant source of entertainment for our family. Ou birds perch on their shades, all in a row, looking out from their pens. It reminds me of perching on the hood of a car watching a drive in movie. I love all the fun photos and the captions. Can’t wait to read more. From one farm girl to another, cheers! Teresa
This is one of the funniest post+comments ever! I’m saving it for later savoring. And for sending to my children and grandchildren at Thanksgiving. I wonder if turkey dinners are dangerous–either because of laughter-caused indigestion or because maybe some of their genes get passed along.
maybe this is why everyone loves a turkey dinner – it is Happy Meat!
With the name, one might expect the style and grace of a Flamenco dancer. The way this sit on furniture is funny to see. Tima and her carrot–so cute.