Dedicating this morning's rising sun and beautiful fall colors to my big lady turkey who passed away sometime last night. Her passing was not unexpected. I could see her declining in recent days but it still makes me sad to know her time has ended. She was one of my three ladies- three meat producing turkeys that we purchased at the same time five years ago and I am sad to see her leave us.
The typical meat turkey has been changed over years by humans to gain weight in their breasts rapidly. They are voracious eaters and peck at food as if they are starving. The weight gain tends to cause many health problems in the turkeys that are allowed to live longer than the 16 weeks at which most of them are slaughtered for food. They have leg problems from the weight and heart problems.
This lady turkey did live a life worth living with a group of friends, and plenty of healthy food and snacks. Although she never actually hatched any chicks (this is also difficult due to their weight as the tend to crush the eggs) she did spend time sitting on a nest with the other hens. She was able to be free range on our farm much of her life. A pretty good life for a turkey if you ask me.
Thankful today for her and for all the lives I share this world with who come and go or stay for a long time.
RIP pretty lady. You will be missed.
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