Oh Arpee...

         Our little start up farm plays host to an interesting cast of characters from rescued huskies to tiny adorable coturnix quails. The star of the homestead however is most certainly this handsome fellow:

       Arpee (R.P.) was the only surviving tom of our inaugural turkey keeping year. He is a royal palm turkey and our surviving hen Blucinda is a blue slate. She is currently on a large clutch of eggs due any minute now. We keep heritage breed turkeys as they have a longer lifespan, a longer breeding life, and are less prone to the health problems suffered by the commercialized white and bronze breeds. Plus...come on look at him! He's so handsome! He's so special! He's....THE MOST ANNOYING BIRD ON THE PLANET!!

       My adult turkeys are able to enter and exit their pen at will and exit he does. Every morning at 5:30 AM he silently makes his way across the yard, past all the other windows and somehow makes his way to our bedroom window. Does he know we are in there sleeping? Can he somehow sense the quiet peace of our dreamscapes? I believe he can because all of the sudden we are awakened to GOBBLEGOBBLEGOBBLEGOBBLEGOOOOOBBBBBLLLEEEE!!!!! Then for the next few hours  he patrols the house watching for me in the windows. Lying in wait….lurking… only to let spring forth his strident call with ruthless dedication to his peace shattering purpose!

            I keep calling him dinner or threatening him with butter and sage but if I’m being very honest I kind of love this most irritating member of our family. After all, he saw himself and two hens through a winter with rather extreme temperatures and conditions (unfortunately Blusephine became the snack of some wild creature this spring). He faithfully stands guard over the quails and pheasants and it’s impossible to sneak up on our house under his watchful eye. Strangely he is also excellent rodent control and I’ve found more than a few deceased mice in his pen. As I type this he is currently directly outside of the living room window and although I can’t see him I know all is well with the creatures of my budding farm because the tone of his call remains steady and conversational rather than shrieky and alarming.

            Sometimes in life the things that get under our skin also work their way into our hearts. So here’s to those messy kiddos destroying your living room. Here’s to Great Aunt Ethel spamming your inbox with prayer chains. Here’s to that cashier that takes just a little longer because he’s busy chatting with you about the weather. Here’s to you Arpee, long may you irritate us. 

 Many people are (understandably) wary of tom turkeys, and they can often be fiercely protective of thier territories. Arpee however, will not say no to the occasional cuddle!

Arpee enjoying a walk with his littlest keeper. He is actually helpful with the kids as he tattles on them when they are not where they are supposed to be!