This past spring we decided to throw caution to the wind, not meet with business plan consultants or make any sort of plan. We ordered a hatchery surprise from Cackle Hatchery in southern Missouri. We didn’t know what we would get (chicks, goslings, turkeys, ducks???) nor how many we would get nor what breeds we would get. It was sort of like Christmas morning the day that we got our order. We were pleased when 2 little turkeys were included in our order. We had been wanting to grow and butcher our own Thanksgiving turkey for a couple of years.
Here one is at a month old.
And again in August at 4 months. They grow really fast! They are actually fun birds to be around. Very inquisitive and they talk constantly.
In October, we decided it was time to do the deed. Unfortunately I do not have pictures of them before the butchering process. They were huge. HUGE! Tom and Clint had to work together to chop off the heads. The only after picture I have is this one. It isn’t the best but it will have to do.
Both of the turkeys weighed between 25 and 30 lbs after butchering. And they were hens. I cannot imagine if we had had toms! We used the smaller of the 2 for Thanksgiving. Doesn’t it look good?
It was the absolute best tasting turkey I have ever eaten. It was very juicy and tender. The dark meat was actually dark not just a darker shade of white. It looked a lot like duck and it was gooooood! We will definitely be repeating the process again for next year. Thank You, Turkey for feeding us so well.
