• In 1863 President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed that the last Thursday in November would be a national day of Thanksgiving.

• The heaviest turkey ever raised was 86 pounds, about the size of a large dog.

• The male turkey is called a tom.
  The female turkey is called a hen.
  Baby turkeys are called poults.
  A 16-week old turkey is called a fryer.
  A 5 to 7 month old turkey is called a young roaster.

• Male turkeys gobble.  Hens do not.  They make a clicking noise.

• 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.  They can run 20 miles per hour.

• Turkeys’ heads change colors when they become excited.

• 675 million pounds of turkey are eaten each Thanksgiving in the United States.  45 million turkeys are eaten each Thanksgiving.  22 million turkeys are eaten each Christmas.  19 million turkeys are eaten each Easter.

• Turkeys don’t really have ears like ours, but they have very good hearing.

• Turkeys can see in color.  They do not see well at night.

• In England, 200 years ago, turkeys were walked to market in herds.  They wore booties to protect their feet.

• The red-pink fleshy growth on the turkey’s head and upper neck is called a caruncle.
The long, red, fleshy area that grows from the turkey’s forehead over the bill is called a snood.
The fleshy growth under a turkey’s throat is called a wattle.

• Since 1947, the National Turkey Federation has presented a live turkey and two dressed turkeys to the President of the United States.  The President does not eat the live turkey.  He “pardons” it and allows it to live out its days on a historical farm.