There are wild turkeys that are clever and fast and roam the woods here in packs that even my farm dog Lily doesn’t dare tussle with.
There are the commercial white turkeys that have breasts so heavy that they can barely waddle and, truly, are dumb as doorknobs.
And then there are the heritage breeds of turkeys that are tamer than their wild cousins but still retain wiles, beauty and athleticism. I hear that they are personable. I haven’t kept turkeys. Have you? Tell me about them.
If you’ve been reading my blog for the last few years (who’s been with me since May 2006 when I wrote my first post?) then you know that of all of the hens that I’ve had in that time, that there were a few standout characters. Lulu was one of them. She was a Speckled Sussex. Agatha is another. Also a Speckled Sussex. In my experience, this breed is full of unique individuals. Personable, curious, and a tad different. Besides, who can resist a polka-dotted bird? But, then, I’m a bit biased towards the breed.
The poem, though, doesn’t ring true. My Speckled Sussex hens lay beige eggs, not white.
Most people have had at least one or two of these in their flock.
They are vigorous foragers and are dominant over meeker breeds. They’re best kept in a situation with a lot of room to roam. You’ll have pecking order problems if kept in typical small backyard confinement.
But, they are sturdy, hardy chickens that lay big brown eggs consistently throughout the season. Mine have never gone broody. Yours?
Q is for Quills. Which reminds us that not that long ago chickens were multi-purpose animals. Feathers were useful. I have diaries from the early 1900s that recount restuffing mattress ticking each year with feathers (if the farm had been prosperous) or with straw (if they were not). One year, the wife lost her wedding band in the process, and never did find it.
When I was a tween, ink pens with nibs were all the rage. But I’ve never written with a real quill pen. Have you?
At one time these were the most popular birds in America. Like many breeds, it had its start in the 1800s when a poultry fancier had a type in mind, crossed two existing breeds, and continued to select for certain traits. In this case, the desired bird was calm, meaty, laid plenty of eggs, and would go broody (useful in the days before electric incubators.) You might know this chicken as a Barred Rock, and recognize it by its black and white patterning, but not all Plymouth Rocks have barred feathering. Some are white, others are penciled (imagine a chicken in a brown tweed coat) or Columbian (white with a black necklace.)
By the way, the Plymouth in its name comes from a town in Massachusetts on Cape Cod.
Edwina and Eleanor were two Plymouth Barred Rocks that lived here for many years. They were ornery and stately. They were not hens that blended meekly in with the flock!
