At Flamingo Land we have two breeds of Turkey - the bronze and the buff brown. These birds are a popular feature on Muddy Duck Farm where they share an enclosure with the African Pygmy Goats.
The domesticated turkey is a direct descendant of the wild North American turkey. Like the chicken, this bird is mainly bred for its meat although the eggs are also consumed as and when they are laid. Although a few breeds are kept by hobbyist, the majority of turkeys are bred in there thousands, which are mass produced for the table.
If allowed to breed naturally, the turkey hen will find a quiet spot in deep undergrowth where she will lay three to seven eggs in a depression in the ground. The eggs will hatch after 28 days. The little chicks are quick to learn and are able to leave the nest shortly after hatching. They will follow their mother around scratching for food such as seed, shoots and insects. The female will brood her chicks for a further six weeks or so, after which they are fully independent.
