GUARD TURKEY

I know all of you have heard about guard dogs but have you ever heard of a guard turkey? I went to visit a friend the other day and found that he has lots of birds around the place as well as two old spaniel dogs. I got out of the car and was pretty worried about the dogs but they came up and were friendly so I thought I am OK just go knock on the door.

I knocked on the door nearest the front of the house without any response. It looked like all the foot traffic into the house went up the hill to the door upstairs and on the back of the house. So I meandered up there. There were pea hens, a couple of peacocks and two turkeys---one a big old TOM. While I walked up to the door the Tom waddled up to watch me knock on the door (or so I thought). I went up to the door and knocked and there was no response. So that being the case I decided I would go back to the car and come see my friend another day. I turned and started off the porch and the Tom Turkey started trying to peck me.

I pushed him away with my foot and he tried to peck me again. I pushed him away again and he flew at me and tried to hook me with his spurs. It made me a little nervous and I tried to shoo him away. He decided I was up to no good and he really started trying to attack me--he flew at me and jabbed his spurs at me and tried to peck me. I finally got far enough away from him (in a panic) that I thought I could turn and run for the car. I did and got away from him but fell down once in the process. He followed to the edge of the house and gobbled and gobbled at me.

The picture is of the turkey standing at the corner of the house gobbling at me--he was truly a guard turkey--I don't think I am going back to that friends house--ever.