George the Turkey

Can a turkey make a good pet?

On the farm in West Virginia, there was an awesome turkey named George. He was my buddy. Someone brought the farmers a clutch of wild turkey eggs, and they were hatched. Unfortunately, some asshole was hunting without permission in the upper fields where the turkeys were hanging out one morning, and killed all of them but George.

Whenever I was working on the farm, George would always follow me around. He loved to hang out with people. The best was when I would bring out the four-wheeler. This was one of those big utility machines that you could hook up a small trailer to for hauling things like hay, feed, fencing or whatever else was needed for one of the infinite tasks that farming requires. Everytime I had to take the four-wheeler out, George would run alongside me, keeping pace with the four-wheeler and gobbling his head off, while staring right at me. He LOVED that machine. If I had to go to the upper fields to feed the cows, he would follow me all the way to the last gate, where he would patiently wait until my chores were complete, and then blissfully follow me back, keeping up his joyful cacophony.

Things took a turn when George hit puberty (I guess). I think he was around 1.5 to 2 years old by this time. George started getting pretty violent toward any female humans that came around, including the lady farmer. He would wait until her back was turned and fly up at her, clawing at her back with his talons. Eventually she had to walk around with a riding crop to beat him off. Her husband, who loved the turkey as much as I did, was loathe to get rid it, so after on such attack he decided to try to put the fear in him. He threw a sack over George and beat him pretty good with the crop. It worked for a few days, but soon George was back at his antics.

As sad as it was, it was time for George to go. Right down the road was the beautiful Lost River State Park, where no hunting is allowed. With a heavy heart, the farmer drove the turkey deep into the park and let him go. I hope that he lived a full, happy life out there.