Turkeys on the move

Turkeys that are raised on pasture--that is living, breathing, actively growing grasses--are happier, healthier, and tastier.  No questions about it.  We are dedicated to raising our birds this way, BUT the logistics of getting the birds out to the fields can be tricky.  They don't come when they are called, and they certainly don't sit and stay.  

It takes some creativity, and ingenuity, and every year we get a little more efficient with the task.

We want our birds out on the grass, BUT we've got to keep them protected from the hungry critter that live out there, too.  We use pasture pens (aka. chicken and turkey tractors) that do the job.  When the birds get big enough, we take them out of the pens, one by one, and move them to the turkey orchard.  Pictured below, Savanah and Georgie are two summer interns who have quick hands and a knack for this work!

We've tried all kinds of methods for getting the birds out to the pastures.  Any good grass farmer has a fleet of various pet carriers to help move poultry from one end of the farm to the other.  Below, Max (the yellow lab and the farm's well-respected livestock manager) has thoroughly inspected the turkeys' new digs.  He's also happy to have his kennel re-purposed.

Not too many seasons into this, we ditch the pet carriers for a high-volume poultry porter.  There is something particularly funny about seeing the turkeys moving around the farm commuter-style.  They wait patiently for their stops, saying very little to each other en route, mostly keeping to themselves and taking in the scenery.    

When they reach their destination, they don't disembark and head briskly to their work.  It takes a farmer to show them one-by-one where to go.  Pictured in the turkey orchard below, Savanah and her bird friend pause for a smile.

Once the birds are in the turkey orchard, we let them do their thing.  They love to run, stretch their wings, graze anything that they can catch, and GROW!  They are real modern-day dinosaurs, and they move across the pasture like a scene from Jurassic Park.

Eventually the birds grow big enough to butcher, and the whole process happens in reverse.  The birds are brought in one-by-one.  Some are easy to catch.....

....others are more elusive.  We've streamlined this step over the years, of course.  We no longer go out with a net prepared to run wind sprints chasing after birds.  Turkeys like to roost at night, and in the dark, they happily stay in place while you pick them up to take them to their ride.

A small sized truck makes a nice ferry to the livestock trailer.  If you are nice you choose a lid with windows so the birds can have a better view.

Turkeys are VERY social and like to interact.  We get to know them pretty well each year, and moving them around the farm is always an adventure that gets tuned up with each new season.

We sell pasture raised turkeys seasonally. Check our online store for availability.  

Find our pickup locations and delivery schedule by clicking here.  

Thanks for choosing to buy meats from farmers who treat their animals with kindness and their land with respect.