Top Ten Turkey Trivia
It’s Thanksgiving in the United States, so here is a top ten list of Turkey Trivia from www.Thanksgivingworld.com and the University of Illinois
- Turkey consumption has increased 108% since 1970.
- U.S. Today growers produce nearly one turkey for every person in the country.
- More than 46 million turkeys are expected to be eaten on Thanksgiving and another 22 million for Christmas.
- The average weight of a turkey purchased at Thanksgiving is 15 pounds and usually has about 70 percent white meat and 30 percent dark meat.
- The heaviest turkey ever raised was 86 pounds, about the size of a large dog.
- Wild turkeys can fly at a speed of as much as 55 miles per hour over short distances and are good runners with a speed of about 25 miles per hour. Commercially raised turkeys cannot fly.
- Turkey breeding has caused turkey breasts to grow so large that the turkeys fall over.
- Turkeys don’t really have ears like ours, but they have very good hearing.
- Wild turkeys spend the night in trees. They especially like oak trees.
- While there was some conflict over 'turkey' and 'bald eagle' for being the National Bird of America. Benjamin Franklin voted out 'bald eagle' for being cowardly.
Have a Happy Thanksgiving!
Written By Dr. Carmin Iadonisi
I want to eat a wild turkey!
ReplyWild turkeys taste so awesome. The flavor is so much more intense than in the domesticated birds. The only downside is that they are VERY hard to hunt. But if you can get yourself one, they're the best. They aren't nearly as big as the butterball-type domestic turkeys (especially the breasts), but at least you know that they are healthier and more natural.
ReplyOne of the areas where I run has a few miles of woods on either side of the road. I occasionally see a flock of wild turkeys crossing the road (not chickens, don't go there), or flying short distances. They are hard workers in the air, not of the eagles grace or power. It is fun, however, to see the real thing living free!
ReplyYou'll occasionally see a wild turkey running around the streets of Boston. Kids think it's absolutely hilarious to see a turkey running around. I was kind of hoping to see one in my backyard this year, but nope.
ReplyThat's why I don't like turkey. Fighting for the legs and wings!
ReplyTo be fair, Ben Franklin wanted the wild turkey-- an intelligent strong animal, not the goofy domesticate turkeys most of us are familiar with
ReplyImagine if Mr. Franklin had gotten his pick, and the turkey had become our national bird:
1. "Wild Turkey" would be the patriotic drink of choice.
2. Thanksgiving dinner would be a lot more interesting; perhaps we'd be eating fattened-up bald eagles!
ReplyIf Ben had ever had the advantage of flight he never would have voted for the turkey! I've come across bald eagles at 3000 feet flying straight and level. Turkeys would only be a danger on very short final under 100 feet. Fattened up eagles is a frightening thought :-)
Reply