Our Christmas turkey decades ago
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (369593)
Rockingham, Australia
January 19, 2026 6:27pm CST
I was going through some old photos and found this one of my mother with her Christmas turkey. She raised a number of turkeys each year and would sell some each Christmas but always kept one to cook for the family.
We also had a pet gobbler which Mum had raised since it was tiny. Despite being male, it never became aggressive. He would come to the house gate to welcome any visitors.
If Mum gave him a cuddle, its wattles and head area would become very red as if he were blushing. If I had friends to stay we would hide in the stables or around the haysheds and Turk would come to find us. Turk was much loved and died of old age. Some pets are/were very special.
I don't have a photo of him but that's not him in the photo - just in case you're wondering or haven't read the whole discussion. 
8 people like this
6 responses
@JudyEv (369593)
• Rockingham, Australia
46m
She does look happy, doesn't she? I forget how much this one weighed but it was a big turkey. For many years, I had no idea that they were native to America and just ran wild.
@JudyEv (369593)
• Rockingham, Australia
45m
Often, entire male pets get quite aggressive but Turk never did.
@LovingMyBabies (85311)
• Valdosta, Georgia
6h
That's so sweet and a lovely photo of your Mother! We have a pet rooster named Buddy, he is very sweet and loves people. Although lots of people are scared of him that come into the yard!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (369593)
• Rockingham, Australia
41m
Some people were scared of Turk but he was never a problem. It's nice to see you here again.
@DaddyEvil (165927)
• United States
5h
That looks like it was delicious! 
Dad always told us not to name or make pets out of the livestock since we might be eating it one day...
Dad always told us not to name or make pets out of the livestock since we might be eating it one day...1 person likes this
@JudyEv (369593)
• Rockingham, Australia
43m
Anything we named we didn't eat. Most of the pet lambs went back into the flock before we got too attached to them.
@MarieCoyle (53589)
•
1h
Turk sounds like he was a wonderful and special pet. Some animals are just very special.
What a nice picture of your mother, Judy. 
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (53589)
•
1m
@JudyEv
My friend Tammy that raises chickens used to raise turkeys, too, but now she is back to just chickens. She had a male gobbler, he was so mean, she gave him to a neighbor to butcher and eat and got another one. The second one was even meaner than the first one. The neighbor ate him, too. She just does chickens now, she says those mean male turkeys have a mean bite!
Your Mom sounds like she had a heart of gold. 
