Due to their long lives, turkeys make excellent pets. Additionally, despite their gobbling and screeching, they are remarkably gentle and amiable, making them excellent pets for families with young children. In addition, there are even traditions from the past that describe a god appearing in the shape of this incredible bird. Here are 10 fascinating turkey facts that will fill you up with knowledge.
1 - Between three and five inches of turkey beard grow each year.
1 - Between three and five inches of turkey beard grow each year.
Despite not being made of hair, turkeys have beards. The Pennsylvania Game Commission claims that turkey beards are actually made of altered feathers that take the form of filaments or bristles. Some turkeys even grow several beards, each of which has a potential annual growth range of three to five inches.
2 - In trees, wild turkeys fall asleep.
Despite spending the majority of their lives on the ground, turkeys fly up into trees to sleep. This is due to the fact that turkeys can't see well at night; therefore, they rest at night and fly south at dawn to defend themselves from predators.
3 - Turkey legs can be deadly!
Male legs feature sharp, bony protrusions that make good weapons in battle. Even as the point for their arrows, Native Americans once used them.
4 - Twice, Turkey came very close to extinction!
This sad turkey fact is true. Sadly, due to people, turkeys have come dangerously close to extinction twice. The very first time was during the early 1800s, when overhunting and habitat degradation almost led to their extinction. Turkeys vanished with the trees as settlers continued to clear forests for lumber to construct homes, villages, and cities. Therefore, it happened once more in the 1930s, when it was believed that turkey populations were unrestricted and could support any amount of shooting.
5 - Little reptiles are a part of the wild turkey's diet.
As they say, eat or be eaten. It's a little difficult to imagine that the traditional Thanksgiving fare may also be a predator. Yes, they do consume seeds, grains, acorns, nuts, berries, and vegetation. But picture these untamed birds consuming worms, snails, slugs, lizards, and more! Breeders advised against feeding wild turkeys artificial feeders like domestic turkeys do since doing so would make gobblers angry and territorial.
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6 - They may alter their hue.
Well, at least the tops of them do! A turkey's mood can be inferred from the color of its head. Colors may change from red to blue to white depending on how calm or excited they are. Their feelings are as strong as the more intense colors.
7 - Gobblers or toms are the names for male turkeys.
Female turkeys are known to as hens, just as female chickens, however male turkeys are not called roosters.Instead, they are referred to as toms or gobblers, as male turkeys are indeed the ones who create the infamous gobbling sound.
8 - Turkeys are able to and will attack people.
Turkeys might not have the reputation for being particularly vicious as other fang-gnashing, claw-displaying predators have, but that does not mean they don't possess a violent side. In actuality, turkeys are quite capable and eager to assault people. The Massachusetts government offers advice on how to avoid confrontations with turkeys as a result, and CBS Boston and Good Day Sacramento both provide advice on what to do if you end up the victim of a turkey assault.
9 - Their feces reveal whether they are male or female.
The droppings of a turkey can be used to determine with certainty whether it is a male or female. The excrement of a male will resemble the letter J, whereas that of a female will resemble a spiral.
10 - Turkeys have a 12-mph top speed.
Although some turkeys might not be capable of flying, their inability to do so does not entirely slow them down. The Pennsylvania Game Commission claims that even when they are on the ground, they can still travel fairly quickly, running up to 12 miles per hour.