raising turkeys Archives - View from the Front Porch

8 03, 2024

Movement Help

By judythemorgan|2024-03-06T09:20:08-06:00March 8th, 2024|Friday on the Miller Farm, Miller Farm Friday|0 Comments

A Blog by Chicken Wrangler Sara

I started a fitness program offered by my insurance that involves mostly stretching. It allows you to target a particular area, so I have been able to get relief from chronic neck pain.

It also encourages movement in any form to help keep pain in check.

I think the birds in the backyard have heard about this component as they have required more movement in the mornings lately.

The turkey has become increasingly grumpy and now will jump at me requiring some special movements I call the “turkey dance.”

It is like the chicken dance but with less arm flapping and more foot moving.

The ducks have also joined the campaign. They have decided to run out of the door of their coop when I go in to feed them.

This means I get to “herd” them back into their space.

I quickly learned to leave the chickens and turkey locked in their coop until I have fed the ducks and herded them all back to their home.

That way I am not trying to do the turkey dance while herding ducks.

There is no place on my fitness app to record turkey dancing or duck herding. I just call it movement and leave it at that.

I’m not sure any of the coaches who monitor the site would understand the life of a chicken wrangler/turkey dancer/duck herder.

2 06, 2023

Hazard Pay

By judythemorgan|2023-05-26T12:09:54-05:00June 2nd, 2023|Friday on the Miller Farm, Miller Farm Friday|0 Comments

A Blog by Chicken Wrangler Sara

The turkey has decided he does not like me. In fact, he puts his head down and charges me every time I am in the chicken yard. He has even flown at me a couple of times.

I now carry a stick to shoo him away. He has never followed me into the chicken coop – yet.

Last week I was cleaning out the nest boxes in the chicken coop. Of course, the grumpy chicken was sitting in one and kept pecking at me as I shoveled the mess out.

The turkey was standing just outside the door watching as I threw the dirty shavings out of the coop. He took that as a personal attack and flew at the door.

It was most disconcerting.

I threw some clean shavings at him and he backed away.

With my heart still racing, I picked up the grumpy chicken and threw her out of the coop.

I was ready for her to charge back in and attack my legs but she went around the corner. The turkey followed her.

I am afraid they are conspiring against me.

I think I need hazard pay.

17 03, 2023

Turkey Trot

By judythemorgan|2023-03-16T09:19:43-05:00March 17th, 2023|Friday on the Miller Farm, Miller Farm Friday|0 Comments

A Blog by Chicken Wrangler Sara

We recently acquired a turkey. We have had white turkeys in the past, Tom and Tina, but they went to live on a bigger farm. I was initially not excited but this turkey is handsome.

He is a red bourbon heritage breed and is destined to be dinner so I have not given him a name.

I enjoy hearing him talking to the chickens but lately, he has started following me around the chicken yard. I am not sure if he thinks I am a female turkey or if he sees me as a threat. In any case, I have added the “turkey trot” to my list of farmyard dances which includes the “chicken dance” and “ring around the chicken coop.”

I have learned many skills as a chicken wrangler. Some are very useful in my day job as a music teacher.

20 01, 2017

Tom Turkey 1, Chicken Wrangler Sara 1

By judythemorgan|2017-01-13T10:33:49-06:00January 20th, 2017|Miller Farm Friday|1 Comment

A blog by Chicken Wrangler Sara

My love/hate relationship with the turkeys continues.

For a while, Tom was roosting in the chicken coop. Every night for several nights, I moved him to the turkey yard to be with Tina. One night he was particularly aggravated by this and kicked and screamed like a toddler. I wrangled him into the turkey yard with Tina and went inside.

An hour later Rachel looked at me and said, “Mom did you know you have a huge hole in your shirt?”

I looked down and there were actually several holes in my favorite denim shirt.

Fortunately, Tom’s obviously sharp claws had not made contact with my skin. My broken ankle remains the only injury sustained thus far.

Fortunately for him, Tom has become quite handsome so I extend him a great deal of grace – as long as he causes no bodily harm.

23 09, 2016

Turkey – 1, Chicken Wrangler Sara – 0

By judythemorgan|2016-09-21T22:11:46-05:00September 23rd, 2016|Miller Farm Friday|2 Comments

A blog by Chicken Wrangler Sara

I believe I mentioned in last week’s post that turkeys are not very smart. This is only half true. They are smart enough to figure out how to get out of their pen but not smart enough to get back in.

This would not be a problem except that once the sun sets, they like to be in the coop with the chicks. Sunday night, one of the turkeys was on the wrong side of the fence and was quite distressed. I felt sorry for it and tried to catch it and return it to the proper pen.

The chickens like to burrow in the dust and leave holes throughout the chicken yard. These holes are hard to see when the sun sets. One is in a particularly treacherous location, and I have thought many times that I should fill it in.

This has not yet happened.

Sunday night, I found the hole while I was trying to catch the wayward turkey. I stepped in it and sprained my ankle. I heard the pop as I fell to the ground. I knew I was in trouble.Beekeeper Brian returned the wayward turkey to the coop and then took Monday off work to take me to the doctor. The X-ray showed no break so I’m using crutches this week in the hopes that I can go without them next week. The kids at school are being very helpful.