Featured Rescues
Rescue success! and re-homed birds.
It is true people can be cruel but more often they are amazingly kind.
As a history addict, I have often read these words, "Animals domesticated people" & always thought those words were an interesting phrase, and coming from a horse raising family in Missouri I could appreciate the concept.
However it was not until the last few turkeys that were brought to us, that I fully comprehend the truth in those words.
Some of our heart warming birds were brought to us by people seeking to get a better home for their beloved turkeys.
I know...I know.... The term "Beloved Turkeys" sounds corny or dumb or hick-worthy, however turkeys have a way of bonding with people and vice versa-a bond that is of such strength that people are often shocked at their attachment!
The three most recent rescues: the owners drove an average of two and a half hours to bring the birds to a new home where they would not become a holiday feast.
And even though we love the holiday feast of turkey and gravy---Well we do not eat our pets. A hundred years ago? Of course that would be different.
2018 we gained three amazing pets and lost our blue slate matriarch Lilac.
Note: I may use the term rescue, however the birds were not a rescue in the common understanding of the word. The birds were "re-homed" to us out of love.
"Christmas"
"Christmas"
"Christmas Boy" is a white Holland turkey brought to us. A beautiful snow white Tom whose owner had to him give up.
We call him 'Christmas' And I often think if we did not have far too many turkeys already, I would not mind having an entire flock of White Hollands.
They can breed naturally and are quite striking with their pure white feathers.
Because Christmas imprinted on humans; wherever & whenever there are people to be found: Christmas is puffed up displaying his goods!
Loretta
"Loretta Peepers" was brought to us from her owner in Sebring Florida.
Loretta is a sweet hen who also imprinted on humans. Loretta is the first Broad Breasted Bronze turkey we have had in years.
Of interest, Loretta is quite attracted to our eastern wild toms and yet she has not been able to successfully mate with any tom.
Even less than a year old the broad breasted turkey shape/body style prevents natural reproduction. I have not made up my mind on whether to give her a fertile egg this spring. Previous attempts at Broad Breasted hens raising babies ended with the baby turkey being accidently smashed by the heavy mother.
Loretta loves to drink from the hose!
Lucky
"Lucky" is a Royal Palm mix heritage turkey. Her owners (we now believe Lucky is a male)---His owners drove from Dunnellon Florida. (four hour round trip drive)
We Hope Lucky's luck holds.
His mother was killed on a nest and the orphan Lucky was given to human parents to raise with their chicks. As Lucky grew, the chickens who were larger- began to attack Lucky and he was temporary brought inside the garage to get away from the chickens. That very night a raccoon broke into the coop and killed all the chickens. Lucky was indeed Lucky.
His human parents drove 2.5 hours to deliver Lucky to his/her new home.
His personality is still developing & after a quarantine period and flock introduction Lucky now roosts in a tree with the other teenage turkeys.
Lucky (was a hen, now a tom!)
The Gang of Four
I went and picked up this group of four. The owner was quite upset. His favorite Road Island chicken had been killed by raccoons the night before and he wanted this four gone before the horde of raccoons returned and murdered all.
The four I brought home: two chickens and two turkey hens
Return Home from Rescue Success page
Do you need the perfect gift?
For pet lovers around the globe, "It's a Matter of Luck" is a collection of heart warming stories of horse rescues from the slaughterhouse.
Available on Amazon:
It's a Matter of Luck: Inspirational, Heartfelt Stories of Horses Given a Second Chance.
by Kim Ryba & Lina T. Lindgren
Warning: This book may cause your eyes to water -in a good way. (speaking from experience after reading it)
Please give Kim and Lina a heartfelt review on Amazon!
Author Bruce Ryba at Kennedy Space Center Launch Pad 39B & Artemis 1. "We are going to the Moon!"
Author's discussion (that's me) on You Tube of a book review on Amazon
My Facebook page Pet Turkeys You can always check in and say hello!
For the video versions of information, please check out my YouTube Channel (Turkeys, KSC, Flintknapping, dive stories etc.)
Book One of Florida History:
Freedoms Quest Struggle for the Northern Frontier and lost tales of old Florida
Fiction & language warning.
Available on Amazon
Desperate times call for bold action.
In a desperate move to retain Florida and protect the treasure-laden galleons on their dangerous return journey to Europe, the King of Spain issues a royal decree offering refuge to all English slaves who escape Florida and pick up a musket to defend the coquina walls of Saint Augustine.
In another bold gamble, the King offers refuge to the dissatisfied Indian nations of the southeast who will take up arms against the English.
Clans, traumatized by war and disease, cross the Spanish Frontier to settle the cattle-rich land and burned missions of Florida.
Follow the descendants of the conquistador Louis Castillo in remote Spanish Florida, a wildland swept by diseases, hurricanes, and northern invasions.
Book Two: Available on Amazon
