We had planned to butcher our three turkeys for Christmas but now I'm not so sure I can.
Mind you, I have a sort of dislike/hate relationship with our largest, most dominant turkey. In short, she's a witch. I watched her systematically reject our smallest turkey months ago and, when an owl broke into the enclosure, I wasn't surprised that it was the rejected turkey that was killed.
Today though might have been a turning point for me. I may actually respect Turkey Witch now.
Our neighbors have a ten month old Doberman/beagle mix (I know, right? How did that happen?). Anyway, they are very responsible but they were on the tail end of their Thanksgiving holiday and the elderly grandmother was taking care of the dog. I came home to find one turkey in the coop (two missing) and feathers everywhere. Then I heard frantic barking down in the field.
I ran down there with a leash and, sure enough, this very large, enthusiastic adolescent dog is confronting Turkey Witch in the field. I wish I could have taken a picture. There's this huge, beautiful white bird, puffed up to make her bigger than the dog who was dancing in front of her trying to get in another bite. Turkey Witch was bleeding from her wings but clearly protecting the other submissive turkey behind the dog, taking on the dog by herself.
I called the dog who came to me immediately and walked her home. Came right back to check the turkeys. Turkey Witch's wounds were from pulled out feathers. The other turkey wouldn't get up for a while but was all right otherwise. Just checked again on both of the turkeys who were attacked and they look good. They aren't bleeding any more and they don't seem to be in shock. In fact, they looked more defiant than anything when I checked in with the flashlight.
So. There's a good possibility that I have three more pets, or maybe watch-turkeys now. I'm not sure I could kill that kind of spirit.
Mind you, I have a sort of dislike/hate relationship with our largest, most dominant turkey. In short, she's a witch. I watched her systematically reject our smallest turkey months ago and, when an owl broke into the enclosure, I wasn't surprised that it was the rejected turkey that was killed.
Today though might have been a turning point for me. I may actually respect Turkey Witch now.
Our neighbors have a ten month old Doberman/beagle mix (I know, right? How did that happen?). Anyway, they are very responsible but they were on the tail end of their Thanksgiving holiday and the elderly grandmother was taking care of the dog. I came home to find one turkey in the coop (two missing) and feathers everywhere. Then I heard frantic barking down in the field.
I ran down there with a leash and, sure enough, this very large, enthusiastic adolescent dog is confronting Turkey Witch in the field. I wish I could have taken a picture. There's this huge, beautiful white bird, puffed up to make her bigger than the dog who was dancing in front of her trying to get in another bite. Turkey Witch was bleeding from her wings but clearly protecting the other submissive turkey behind the dog, taking on the dog by herself.
I called the dog who came to me immediately and walked her home. Came right back to check the turkeys. Turkey Witch's wounds were from pulled out feathers. The other turkey wouldn't get up for a while but was all right otherwise. Just checked again on both of the turkeys who were attacked and they look good. They aren't bleeding any more and they don't seem to be in shock. In fact, they looked more defiant than anything when I checked in with the flashlight.
So. There's a good possibility that I have three more pets, or maybe watch-turkeys now. I'm not sure I could kill that kind of spirit.
