Two turkeys and a Gander

[slyfox-mal]

some of you know that i was concerned about some livestock over my allotments and i had to make a choice on what i should do about it.

about 2 weeks ago whilst looking after an old fellows garden  whilst he was in hospital i noticed that next doors birds where looking a little rough so i kept an eye out for the owner.
as days went by no owner turned up to feed or lock them away at night and two of them started begging for food through the fence so me been the soft touch i am i fed them
 then i noticed two turkeys locked in a small compound at the back these two where also looking very sorry for them selves so i took it upon myself to enter the garden and have a better look,  so i went over the fence and inspected the birds and enviroment  they had no water and no food at all and all this guys feed bins where empty .
so i fed and watered them and left a few days more went by and no sign of the owner  then the last straw was broken when a fox got in and killed the goose this i was very upset about so i managed to get a contact number discretly and contacted the owner .
at first he was very abusive to me and told me in not to kind way to mind my own business this really got me fuming so i hung up
 about a hour later i thought id try again this time he was a little more calm about the situation  but i had made my mind up  by now and rightly or wrongly i gave him three options 
1 . go in and dispach the birds  immediatly
 2. come over and ill take them off his hands 
or lastly ill phone the rspca and report him 

so im glad to say im now the owner of two turkeys and a very lonely gander  sadly i was to late to save his mate of which im absolutly gutted about because i could have avoided this if id acted a little quicker

any how thats all for now ive done my ranting  kindest regards mal

[manicscousers]

congratulations on taking a stand !, I'm glad there are people who still do this sort of thing

[Rosyred]

Have you seen the owner since to ask what he was playing at? I would of done the same as you.

[teresa]

Oh Mal,
I think we can all understand the " If only I had done etc" its ok to be wise after such a tradgy.
But on the other hand if you had not made the second phone call they may have all been  killed think of it that way.
You lost one to save 3, what are you going to do with the gander find a new home for him or get him a partner?
You must have a feel good feeling about saving them when you see them. Any photos I am sure we all here would love to see before and after photos of the new arrivals.

[slyfox-mal]

i think im going to keep the gander  infact ill be keeping them all and im trying to locate a mate for the gander i have had to alot of shuffling around to accomadate them but its worth the effort i cant really afford to keep them  but ill manage  guess ill get my new shoes some other time lol  ill try to get some pics soon  and hopefully keep you all informed  of there progress regards mal

[Carol]

Mal,  I am pleased to read you did the right thing and got them birds out.  Well done.  Hope you manage to find a mate for the Gander, keep him happy.   

[slyfox-mal]

ye carol i got there in the end after alot of soul searching  i bit the bullet and went for it they seem to be doing ok right now and hopefully the gander will be ok when i find him a mate

[slyfox-mal]

at last some good news i have managed to get a goose for the gander i rescued

 i pick her up in the morning so im buzzing now  hope it cheers him up a little hes so sad  at the moment but touch wood he will like her  and forget about his past 

the turkeys are doing good eating fine and back to roosting up on a perch at night  must be getting abit of strength back hope thier progress continues

regards mal

[manicscousers]

congratulations, hope they'll be very happy 

[bombus]

Mal, you are a STAR! well done.

It's because of Pratt's like him that many councils don't allow livestock on site.

Regards Bombus

[teresa]

Oh Mal, I hope she lifts his sprites up bless him, most likely still suffering from shock, a gander will normaly protect his ladies.
 I remember as a youngster crossing a local farmers field his gander would escort me staying between me and his ladies.
 Never attacked me but I got warned if I looked in their directions quite intimadating he was a big boy.

[shirlton]

I wonder if love is in the air Mal. So pleased that you rescued the poor things

[KMARKSnr]

Well done Mal 

              Regards,
                    Mark

[Marymary]

Good luck with the rescued birds, Mal?  Have you got the goose yet?  Do they like each other?  Are you keeping them on the lottie? 

[slyfox-mal]

got the goose and she has settled in nicely , and the gander has perked up  loads hes back to hissing at me now protecting his new lady. so it looks like she will be staying and im not the boss in my own garden no more  typical!!

[teresa]

Oh shes made him better ha ha. Another mouth to feed you will have to open the garden to the  locals as a atraction. My neighbroughs bring their grandchildren to see the chickens and where they lay the eggs. Children love it and ask loads of questions I love it.

[slyfox-mal]

bad news today  the male turkey was dead this morning when i went in to open up hes never really gotten over the neglect i guess i thought they where doing ok  but i guess not  he seemed fine last night when i locked them up oh well some you win some u lose

[manicscousers]

sad      sometimes it's too much to cope with

[Marymary]

Sorry about that, Mal, you did your best but never nice.  I found one of my chickens dead last week & it made me sad.  Don't know much about turkeys but I think they are supposed to be difficult to raise.  Bernard Matthews seems to manage it though!

[teresa]

So sorry Mal, but you made him happy before he went, hows the lady taken it?