We have just spent the morning cleaning out the hatchery and broody cages. It is a bit of a mundane chore, but also a great opportunity to have a really close look at just how well the little ones are doing, and we are delighted to say they are going along just fine…. Of particular note, the majority of our Norfolk Black…
Travelling Turkeys Earlier this week I received an email from the Azores with regard to some Bourbon Red turkey eggs we had sent. Well, we get enquiries from all over the world so I wasn’t initially thrown by the location, but I just couldn’t remember having sent anything to the Azores. A little backtracking soon threw some light upon events. …
Buff Turkeys As many will know we are passionate about the Buff turkey and getting them back to where their future is more secure. Sadly recent years had seen a significant decline in Buff numbers, and the available stock just wasn’t breeding true. However, success with our Buffs last year enabled us to release two good stags a few months ago to two turkey keepers. …
Countryfile Diaries Well the Countryfile Diaries program we were involved with was aired this week and the response has been excellent. The hatching egg sequence was particularly well received with lots of interesting comments. But let’s face it who can resist the wonder of one of the miracles of nature and fluffy chicks. Anyway, the most important thing is that after…
Wednesday 18th May at 09:15am on BBC One. Thursday 19th May at 06.30 am on BBC Two As you may know, we recently had a BBC crew here filming for the new ‘Countryfile Diaries’ daytime series. Given ‘Spring’ was their theme they came here to film fluffy poults and capture on film a turkey egg hatching. We are delighted to say the turkeys delivered…
We have been working in Cornwall for a few days which was really enjoyable, but as always on long drives home the discussion turns to what we will find when we get back regards our assorted poultry and pets. There hadn’t been any ’emergency phone calls’ while away so nothing drastic was anticipated, and upon arriving home we were pleasantly…
Over the years we have worked on a number of projects with the BBC and other similar organisations. But this weekend was the first time we had ever been asked to hatch to a precise time for onsite filming. We knew the day the crew were coming to Heritage Turkeys to film a ‘Spring Themed’ event for ‘Countryfile Diaries’, but…
The swallows returned this morning and bought a fabulously sunny day with them. It is such a delight to see them cartwheeling around Dodpen and over the valley again, and what a journey they have been on since we last saw them. It will only be a few weeks before they are lining their ‘mud cup’ nests with turkey feathers. It is…
Well another week passed, where do they go?. Hatchings percentages are really good and it seems as though we have poults popping up everywhere. Such an exciting time I think. We currently have builders on site and they are fascinated by the hatching process and the development of the poults. Spring Fever is infectious and everyone is buoyed up by the new life and blossoming trees that…
Interest in all our turkey varieties is as high as ever this year and the orders just keep coming in. This tells us that people are more aware, interested and prepared to give heritage varieties of turkey a go. As all turkey keepers know this initial interest leads to an addiction for these delightful birds, and once hooked rarely do people…