This is our sole survivor of the turkey poults. We have decided that he has been pardoned and will be our only turkey on the farm for awhile. Turkeys are very hard to raise apparently. Turkey Girl passed away last night. We had brought her in the house for more intensive nursing, as she was just not doing very well out in the coop. It was apparent that she was just not getting stronger, fast enough. We had been going out several time to tend her, and make sure she was drinking, but you could just tell something was not quite right. She would make a little advancement, but then it was two steps backwards. She passed away quietly in a nice warm little towel, in the still of the night.

As good timing came along, our neighbors asked if we wanted a pair of young banty roosters! They had gotten 5 banty chicks and it turned out they had 4 roos and only one little hen! So I said… sure! And it was perfect timing because now, Einstein, clearly our smartest turkey of the bunch, would have a couple of bachelor friends and role models to observe!

Introducing our newest little pals… our Banty Boys… Brent and Josh. The Beakmen Boys! (of course, a play on the famous Beekman Boys on tv!) You can blame Jessy for their names… she was the silly one to think of the connection!!!

Josh is the black and white one… a silver laced Wyandotte bantam rooster and Brent is the gold laced Wyandotte roo! They are so cute! They are just starting to crow and it sounds like a teenage boy with his voice changing… it’s a strangled and sort of hesitant roo, but trying very hard to make it sound awesome!

Well, I had just let out the hens and Bucka and was giving them a little left over bread when we heard one of the little roos try and crow. It was so funny and Bucka did a comic double take and looked at me so puzzled. I said, lets go see and started to walk over to the coop house. Bucka was trotting alongside me as well as a few of his ladies. This was big news on the farm, folks…

First things first, he was at the coop door checking them out. I was in and giving them a little bread treat and filling up their water and feed. But then the fun commenced. Bucka lured the little boys out into the yard and the crowing contest began!

Bantam chickens are small, miniature version of full sized chicken breeds. I believe there are a few only bantam breeds, but most I have seen look like the larger breeds. The roosters are particularly perky and cute, and full of themselves. They were right at the fence of the yard battling out with the I’m bigger than you are contest, which, they were CLEARLY the losers, as Bucka was about oh, 6 times their size! haha…. And he could certainly out crow them totally. But they are feisty and gave it their best shot. Einstein was so pleased that his new friends were of the zesty variety and just watching with his big oogly turkey eyes in awe. Bucka was a bit annoyed, and puffed himself up to giant size, crowing and scratching and just basically declaring himself as the king of the hill, the cock of the rock and leader of all things fowl on the farm.

Eventually, Bucka just decided it was time to hang with his girls and wandered off near the well house to visit and tend to his morning rituals. He knew he was the king and wasn’t bothered by the two little pipsqueeks. However, Einstein was super impressed with his little banty buddies and was following them all over the yard and into the coop house. I’m so glad. Last night when we snuck the banties into the coop, Einstein was laying out in the yard, in the grass, just peeping forlornly. Not even his normal curious peeping, just a lone peep, pause, silence and then another half hearted peep. He was alone and he knew something was not right. He didn’t even want to come into the coop house for night. We tried to get him to, but he wouldn’t budge. I swear if turkeys can be depressed, he was one down little turkey boy.

Today, though, is a totally different story. Now he has a pair of feisty little brothers to hang with, and he part of a flock, a member of the gang… if nothing else, he has companions to keep him company. We’ll probably keep an eye out for a few little pretty banty hens. Why not? I hear that banty hens are AWESOME mothers and will hatch out just about anyone’s eggs when they go broody. And if we can pick some beautiful little ones, we can count on our banty chicks to be quite unique and beautiful. The coop house can easily hold quite a few birds without being over crowded.

The coop house and yard have been on our project list this week. It might not look great, but all the tall weeds were cut from the yard and it was cleaned of debris. The fencing around it was improved and fixed, checked for any loose areas or breaks. We bought a poultry net for the top and it’s all tied down and safe. Our plans are to get a few sheets of siding and improve the outside of the coop and paint it. It’s going to look wonderful when we get all done. But right now, it’s at least safe and sound for our little boys. Einstein likes to go out into the yard with his little friends now, and is picking grass and hunting bugs and enjoying his turkey life!

And Bucka Roo is content in his role as King, protector of the flock and general all around Master of the Estate… all is as it should be!