Mon
Apr 14 2008
04:53 pm
Turkeys Invade The Home
By: redmondkr

Traffic along Weaver Road resembled a Cades Cove bearjam earlier today as Tamara's turkeys were parading around in other parts of the neighborhood. There were about ten hens and four toms spotted just outside my office window. They had been in the neighbor's orchard across the road about an hour earlier.

More pics after the break.

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R. Neal's picture

Isn't there a leash law in

Submitted by R. Neal on Mon, 2008/04/14 - 5:36pm.

Isn't there a leash law in Knox Co.? Heh.

(Nice pics!)

Rachel's picture

This reminds me of the

Submitted by Rachel on Mon, 2008/04/14 - 5:47pm.

This reminds me of the chapter in Barbara Kingsolver's book "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle" on breeding turkeys. It's one of the more hilarious things I've ever read.

bizgrrl's picture

Okay, so I don't know about

Submitted by bizgrrl on Mon, 2008/04/14 - 6:02pm.

Okay, so I don't know about turkeys. What do you mean Tamara's turkeys? Are they breed? Are they wild? What's up with all the turkeys?

redmondkr's picture

The last time I spotted them

Submitted by redmondkr on Mon, 2008/04/14 - 6:13pm.

The last time I spotted them they were in Tamara's back yard and I accused her of feeding them to keep them for herself.

I keep thinking that I will get me a nice digital SLR, but I do love the convenience of my little Olympus Stylus.


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Pam Strickland's picture

Last year my relatives out

Submitted by Pam Strickland on Mon, 2008/04/14 - 6:46pm.

Last year my relatives out Claxton way had a family of them living in their yard. Ginea, tom and 10 or 12 babies. It was a hoot to watch them walk across the back yard (a big field) in a line -- one way in the morning, the other way in the evening.

Pam Strickland

"We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be." ~Kurt Vonnegut

Tamara Shepherd's picture

Aren't they GRAND?!

Submitted by Tamara Shepherd on Mon, 2008/04/14 - 8:22pm.

Kenny: "The last time I spotted them they were in Tamara's back yard and I accused her of feeding them to keep them for herself."

I DO feed them--cracked corn from Walmart's pet food department (and it's the only reason I'll go in there, just because Anderson County Farm Co-op is a bit more of a jaunt).

When we built here nearly nine years back, we couldn't afford a lot of house, so we built small, but added two covered porches and two patios around three sides (doubles the living space nine months out of the year). We'll start enjoying three meals a day outside--with a view--any week now!

I look forward to the return of spring so I can start every morning outside with my coffee, sweeping and pinching and plucking (the flora, I mean). When the turkeys meander by, though, there's nothing to be done but to sit down and lose thrity minutes in a Turkey Reverie...

But FOUR toms in this harem, Kenny? I've been visited right regular by a flock of 21, but there are just two toms among 'em.

Sounds like we can look forward to a flock of 80 sometime real soon!

(Did you notice the signage hanging from the mailbox of one of my neighbors here on Meredith? It's of the yellow "Yield" sort, but it says "Turkey Crossing.")

Tamara Shepherd's picture

Talk like a hayseed

Submitted by Tamara Shepherd on Mon, 2008/04/14 - 8:30pm.

Pam: "Ginea, tom and 10 or 12 babies."

Actually, Pam, that's hens, toms, and poults. When talking turkeys, there's another word that can be used besides "flock," too, but I can't recall it just now. "Flock" works, too.

They're wild, Michelle. My uncle says they disappreared about twenty years ago here on the ridge. They reappeared about five years back.

Just a couple of weeks ago, we had THREE deer about fifteen feet off my back porch! We get possums, racoons, and a solitary skunk--now and again--too.

I have bought five birdfeeders since we moved here, but none has lasted a full week. Too much competition.

Tess's picture

Rocky Hill too

Submitted by Tess on Mon, 2008/04/14 - 7:23pm.

One of my neighbors in Rocky Hill has spotted a "flock" or whatever a bunch of them are called on several occasions in my hood.

Tamara Shepherd's picture

Bad math (blush)

Submitted by Tamara Shepherd on Mon, 2008/04/14 - 8:39pm.

I said: "But FOUR toms in this harem, Kenny? I've been visited right regular by a flock of 21, but there are just two toms among 'em. Sounds like we can look forward to a flock of 80 sometime real soon!"

Guess that'd be "a flock of 40-ish," huh? I'll have to keep a sharp eye peeled for Bob Hodge with a rifle, in any event...

redmondkr's picture

I was surprised that I could

Submitted by redmondkr on Mon, 2008/04/14 - 8:54pm.

I was surprised that I could get that close to them and how big they are.

You know we are fortunate. Just like Christopher Robin, we live next to a hundred-acre wood.


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Tamara Shepherd's picture

100 acre wood now...

Submitted by Tamara Shepherd on Mon, 2008/04/14 - 11:09pm.

Kenny: "Just like Christopher Robin, we live next to a hundred-acre wood."

Although I think a good portion of it not owned by the Shepherd clan is now owned by the heirs of Rufus Smith (as in Smithbilt Homes).

Sure *hope* the critters don't get squeezed out...

Bizzy's picture

Tamara

Submitted by Bizzy on Mon, 2008/04/14 - 10:41pm.

...is it o'possum or simply possum as you spelled it? Check this out:
(link...)

Tamara Shepherd's picture

Vernacular

Submitted by Tamara Shepherd on Mon, 2008/04/14 - 11:04pm.

I reckon that varies, dependin' on the writer bein' north or south of the Mason-Dixon line :-)

redmondkr's picture

We get possums, racoons, and

Submitted by redmondkr on Mon, 2008/04/14 - 11:17pm.

We get possums, racoons, and a solitary skunk--now and again--too.

I came home from a short hospital stay last spring to find a dead possum that my children had left me in the master bath. They once brought a raccoon through the dog door and, oh Lord, there was that skunk de pew they killed a year ago last January.

And coyotes are not unusual in these parts. My neighbor saw one Sunday morning.


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Tamara Shepherd's picture

Don't have to *see* 'em...

Submitted by Tamara Shepherd on Mon, 2008/04/14 - 11:32pm.

...to know they're there. I've only seen one in nine years, but every time a vehicle with a siren tears down either Clinton Hwy or Oak Ridge Hwy, they go off in a chorus that will make your blood run cold! Sounds like 50 or more!

redmondkr's picture

My dogs howl the same way at

Submitted by redmondkr on Mon, 2008/04/14 - 11:37pm.

My dogs howl the same way at the sound of a siren - or when I leave the house without them.

Come to think of it, I wonder how that flock of turkeys survives with the coyotes around. I've heard hunters say they're pretty crafty, but I came pretty close to them today with a camera.


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Bizzy's picture

Beware!

Submitted by Bizzy on Mon, 2008/04/14 - 11:38pm.

Keep your kitties in at night if you have coyotes in the neighborhood.

Up Goose Creek's picture

Downtown turkeys

Submitted by Up Goose Creek on Tue, 2008/04/15 - 8:34am.

My neighbor spotted turkeys in the Carl's road park near Cherokee trail. I guess they were diplaced by the "Woodlands" :-(.

Do we need a downtown Turkey preserve? I hope they made it to Ft. Dickerson.
____________________________________
Less is the new More - Karrie Jacobs

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