The Great Turkey Experiment
- January 19, 2011
- Category: Daily Diary
- (22) Comments
If you visit this blog regularly then you’ll know my kind of turkey experiment has nothing to do with deep frying. And I warn you it’s definitely a crazy lady and her turkeys kind of story. But if you are interested, here it is.
It started while Mountain Man was watching The Weather Channel. “There’s a sledding chicken on.” he said. And sure enough there was and a very talented chicken I might add. Well, that got me thinking if a chicken can sled than my turkeys can learn to toboggan so I grabbed our plastic toboggan and headed out for a training session.
If you’ve seen the movie “Cool Runnings” about the Jamaican bobsled team, then you’ll know what follows.
“You want us to do what exactly?”
And when I explained my brilliant idea, they took off running.
But not one to be deterred, I continued with my plan. I guess I could have grabbed a turkey and started sledding but that’s not my training style so I mixed up a batch of their favorite oatmeal, veggies and yogurt and put it on the toboggan as a lure. No, not working.
I had forgotten how turkeys dislike change. After all, it took them an entire day to decide to go outside the first time I opened the coop door. Time to call in the chickens who tend to be braver than turkeys. After listening intently to my instructions
They hopped right on the toboggan and formed a line patiently waiting their turn. And a curious but still suspicious turkey watched with interest.
While other turkeys thought it was safer to watch from a distance.
It was going to take time to convince the turkeys to even approach the toboggan and I was fast losing feeling in my feet and fingers. I decided to move the toboggan inside the coop and sit with them and see what happened. Not much.
One of the problems was the toboggan was very tippy when weight was applied to the side. Hmm, what to do? I grabbed on to the side of the toboggan and then I used my powers of persuasion. “Okay, just try it once and if you don’t like it you’ll never have to do it again and I’m not leaving until you at least try.” That did it. They wanted me out of there so one brave hen decided to step forward. She put one foot on
And then, miracle, she put both feet on.
End of today’s training session. I know before the winter is over, I’ll have her tobogganing down our hills. And if you’re wondering what Mountain Man thinks about all this I can tell you he’s never surprised by anything I do any more.
Have a great day everyone and thanks for visiting us.
Can’t wait to see the toboggan team you end up with!
Date: January 19, 2011
I’m looking forward to this one!
Date: January 19, 2011
I think I see a Olympic sport emerging…… turkey sled racing… :O)
Date: January 19, 2011
I really enjoy your posts… thanks, soon maybe they will be wearing mufflers?
Date: January 19, 2011
Oh, this is just too funny. I can’t wait to see if they will really go down the hill in a tobaggan
I think they will, once they realize how fun it is 
Love and hugs from Oregon, Heather 
Date: January 19, 2011
This reminds me not only of Cool Runnings, but also of Surf’s Up, about the penguin surfers. There’s a chicken in the movie named Chicken Bob who’s a pretty good surfer. I think your birds could benefit from watching it.
I’m suggesting this post for Post of the Week!
Date: January 19, 2011
Sara, what will you think of next. You and your birds are the most comical group that I have known. You had me belly laughing….again. You just have a way with fowl.
Keep enjoying life to the fullest.
Date: January 19, 2011
This was hilarious. Thank you so much for the entertainment and fabulous pictures. Great to hear about the Mountain Man.
And thanks for your visit to my blog.
Date: January 19, 2011
I just loved this post! I tried to discuss with my husband whether chickens or turkeys are more likely to learn to toboggan, but oddly enough, he had no opinion on the matter.
Date: January 19, 2011
Hahaha! I can’t wait to see tobogganing turkeys!!! Go crazy lady, GO!
Date: January 19, 2011
LOL YEAY she did it! Now I’m hooked so I’ll be watching for your next training post. I may want to use this info to train my chickens although I think we may have a hard time finding a hill to slide down here in our part of Kansas. Enjoy your Thursday!
Maura
Date: January 19, 2011
This is hilarious! Good luck with your experiment!
Date: January 20, 2011
Oh, thank you, thank you for all the chuckles you gave me with this post! I’m off to bed now, but I’ll be chuckling all the way! I’ll probably still be chuckling in my sleep!
Date: January 20, 2011
You are great! Just too funny. You sure made me smile! I need to get some turkeys, or maybe I will use the chickens.
Date: January 20, 2011
Now I’m beginning to wonder; Is there a Poultry Olympics that your turkey toboggan team can compete in?
If there is I’ll be rooting for your team.
Date: January 20, 2011
What a cute group of birds! I think you are a bird/animal whisperer.
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
Date: January 20, 2011
Cute Story! Found you by way of an ad email received from GRIT. Was drawn to the story you wrote about Mountain Man and his homemade wood-drying kiln. Quite inventive. Be interesting to see if the wood dries out in a month. . . . best of luck up there in the freezing snow!
BW
Date: January 21, 2011
I think you are crazy! hahaha, but have fun with the turkeys. I just noticed that you are a Zazzler! yay… I’ve been with them since 8/07 and it’s a very good income for me. Of course it took a long time, and I put in a lot of hours, but it’s fun. So welcome to Zazzle!
Date: January 21, 2011
I really don’t see your turkeys staying on that sled going down a hill, but perhaps your chickens will. Good luck!
Date: January 21, 2011
I found your page when I googled about my sledding chicken. I really enjoyed your wonderful story and pictures of you turkeys!! What a wonderful life! Thanks for the smiles!
Date: January 22, 2011
What a hoot! And I loved Cool Runnings!
Congrats on POTW from Hilary; so well deserved.
Jane
Date: February 02, 2011
I’ll be watching for this on YouTube!
Date: February 02, 2011