Who's first: the turkey or the egg ?

Saturday, 24th of June. On my way to Wonnacott Farm, my favourite free-range turkey farm (also the only one I know, but it would be my favourite anyway). Six months since my last visit already, I can believe it, time runs so fast.

Well, the weather today is not so different as it was on the 12th of December: wet, grey, cloudy... (but I can't complain, I've just experimented the English summer few days ago with 30 degrees, it just seems the summer is already over). After a long journey by train and bus, I'm finally back in the Devon countryside, surrounded by hills. It is a great pleasure to come back at this farm and spend a week-end with the family. And I am very excited to see another part of the turkey breeding: the hatching and first weeks of life of the guest stars for next Christmas dinner.

Actually, all the eggs have already hatched. The hatching period started in the beginning of May, for 8 weeks. The young turkeys are grouped in age group, from elss than one week to eight weeks. The smallest one are so cute. They are only 3 days old, but are already very active. Of course they are too young to live already outside, but they love when we bring them green food. Turkeys are great animals : they love nettles, thistles and docks (also known as rumex). All these plants are usually classified as weeds, but turkeys eat them with appetite. One emotional moment of the week-end was the first go outside for the oldest turkey group. They lived a building with sunlight, and already eat greens, however before this week-end, they had never seen the real outside. More than 100 teenage turkeys to lead to the park we created, I let you imagine the scene (I didn't take any pictures of that memorable moment). The hardest part was probably the counting: impossible. They move too fast and are all the same to my eyes. Hopefully Rosie is an expert at counting turkeys. It was a really nice moment to see how turkeys were happy to be outside, they didn't seem scared or lost and eat instinctively grass and plants in the field.

I thought it was another very good proof that poultry shouldn't live in close building without seeing the natural light and eating concentrate feed...Being outside develops their natural instinct, their curiosity, provide them a more balanced diet and guarantee an optimal welfare. I was already conviced by the importance of eating free-range eggs and meat anyways, but please think about it when you buy your food. Animals are happier and healthier outside !

Only one week old, the chicks are very curious and active !

When they are older, turkey experiment eating the grass and the small insects, and they love it !

The adults live outside all day long, but during the night they sleep inside lock shelter to be protected from foxes, stray dogs or badgers. In this mating period, there is in average one stag for 5-6 hens. The hens keep laying all summer, but it is too late to hatch the eggs so there are collected and we can cook plenty of delicious cakes, crepes, quiches, omelets with them .

Coming in June at Wonnacott Farm also gave me the opportunity to see better the cattle and sheep. I discovered a new cattle breed: the bull is a South Devon. A very massive breed, red color and round shape, a nice conformation to guarantee a good meat production. The cows are from different breed, like Angus or North Devon for example. There are three generations on the same time at the farm, at this period of the year: the 2 years old cattle, which will go to the butcher soon; the one year old cattle, teenage beef and heifers, and the calves, born last spring.

If you are interested to rear your own turkeys for next Christmas, or order already you turkey for December, have a look on Wonnacott Fam Website : http://www.wonnacottfarm.co.uk/rearing-turkeys.htm