Luther is one month old!  I can hardly believe it!  The life of my little ‘miracle’ turkey has been anything but boring!  Luther has been growing by leaps and bounds!  He’s no longer being toppled by the crazed chick we call Chickzilla.   He and his little turkey buddy have been inseparable. . . . so, imagine my shock to find that Luther had flown the coop!  Somehow he had gotten out of the brooder – and gone missing.  The day he disappeared resulted in a tearing apart of the hatchery (aka laundry room) – something I really didn’t have time for!  Luther usually responds to my voice – but not this time.  I couldn’t imagine his little legs taking him very far.  His wings have been feathering out – but not enough to carry him any distance.  Where was this bird?!  Even our Labrador was stumped.

Several hours into the mystery – I heard his call.  It was faint – but unmistakable.  It seems that Luther had escaped his little birdie prison (I’m thinking Steve McQueen – “The Great Escape” –  I’m sure that is how it went down!).  He apparently had hopped out and couldn’t figure out how to hop back in. . . . (only someone who has raised turkeys can truly understand this truism!).  He had gotten cold, and so slipped behind the clothes dryer and decided to cozy up inside the base of the dryer where it was nice and warm ( I actually do laundry on occasion).  We are fortunate that he didn’t end up a little turkey popper!

So, mystery solved and turkey retrieved (several hours shot!!!), Luther, Chickzilla, his little Buddy and our other little chicken (no name) were moved to the big house. . . . The San Quintin of brooders.  They no longer reside in the laundry room. . . . San Quintin is too large.  They are in the garage – in a maximum security facility until they are large enough and the nights are warm enough to move them up with the big birds.

The laundry room counter is still a hatchery.  There are  several dozen turkey eggs in varying stages of incubation – many will be hatching any day.  There will be more noise (and smell) in the laundry room  – but it will not be the same as little Luther. . . He is undeniably a little miracle bird.  Watching him grow up will  no doubt continue to be quite an adventure.  I’ll keep you posted,

Kathy