Gobble Gobble

Turkey facts I learned today:

• When the US Air Force was doing test runs and breaking the sound barrier, it was discovered that nearby turkeys were dropping dead from heart attacks.

• Since 1947, the National Turkey Federation (wtf?) has given the President a live turkey, which he "pardons" and allows to live on a historical farm. Occasionally they present a drunken, cocaine using half- brother who gets pardoned and allowed to do stupid television appearances.

• 200 years ago in England, they were walked to market wearing little booties to protect their feet. I wish I had a picture of that.

• Breeding has caused breasts to grow so large that the turkeys fall over. (See Tuesdays post.)

• June is National Turkey Lover's Month.

• Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrins first meal on the moon was turkey.

• There are about 3,500 feathers that need to be removed from each turkey before you buy one.

• The skins are tanned and used to make cowboy boots and belts. Genuine turkey skin boots, oh my!

• The red-pink fleshy thing on their head and neck is called a caruncle, and the ugly thing hanging over it's beak is called a snood.

• Turkey eggs hatch at 28 days.

• The heaviest turkey ever raised was 86 pounds. That's about the size of a large dog.

• They were around 10 million years ago.

• They can see in color.

• Baby turkeys are called poults, a 16 week old is called a fryer, a 5 to 7 month old is called a young roaster, a year old is called a yearling (imagine that) and any turkey over 15 months is called tough.

• And.... about 45 million turkeys are eaten every Thanksgiving.
  

How was yours?