If during your family gathering the table conversation lags or perhaps turns to the topic of Obamacare, here are a few turkey facts you can use to liven up or re-direct the conversation.
Ben Franklin, in a letter to his daughter, proposed the turkey as the official United States bird.
In 2007, the average American ate 17.75 pounds of turkey.
The heaviest turkey ever raised was 86 pounds which is about the size of a large dog, but much better tasting.
A 15 pound turkey usually has about 70 percent white meat and 30 percent dark meat.
The male turkey is called a tom. The female turkey is called a hen.
The turkey was domesticated in Mexico and brought to Europe in the 16th century.
Wild turkeys can fly for short distances up to 55 miles-per-hour and run 20 miles-per-hour.
Turkeys’ heads change colors when they become excited, sort of like professional sports figures.
Most of the turkeys raised for commercial production are White Hollands.
It takes 75 to 80 pounds of feed to raise a 30 pound tom turkey.
A domesticated male turkey can reach a weight of 30 pounds within 18 weeks after hatching.
Forty-five million turkeys are eaten each Thanksgiving. Twenty-two million turkeys are eaten each Christmas. Nineteen million turkeys are eaten each Easter.
Male turkeys gobble. Hens do not. They make a clicking noise.
Turkeys have heart attacks. When the United States Air Force was doing test runs and breaking the sound barrier nearby turkeys dropped dead with heart attacks.
The most popular ways to serve leftover turkey are as a sandwich, stew, chili, or soup.
Have a great Thanksgiving day from Hoosier Ag Today!