Wednesday, November 26, 2014

The turkey, our national symbol??

It's Thanksgiving Eve...relax while your turkey brines and learn a bit more about this tasty bird!




At one time, the turkey and the bald eagle were each considered as the national symbol of America. Benjamin Franklin was one of those who argued passionately on behalf of the turkey. Franklin felt the turkey, although "vain and silly," was a better choice than the bald eagle, whom he felt was "a coward."

The ballroom dance known as the Turkey Trot was named for the short, jerky steps a turkey makes.

Turkeys are the only breed of poultry native to the Western Hemisphere.

Read more: Infoplease.com 
http://www.infoplease.com/spot/tgturkeyfacts.htm



The average person in the United States will eat 15 pounds of turkey this year.

A male turkey is called a tom, a female is a hen, and a youngster is a poult. Only male turkeys, or toms, can gobble, and they mostly do it in the spring and fall. It is a mating call and attracts the hens. Wild turkeys gobble at loud sounds and when they settle in for the night.

The loose red skin attached to the underside of a turkey’s beak is called a wattle. When the male turkey is excited, especially during mating season, the  wattle turns scarlet. The fleshy flap of skin that hangs over the gobbler's beak is called a snood and also turns bright red when the bird is excited.


Read more: The Old Farmer's Almanac http://www.almanac.com/content/turkey-trivia
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