Squabbling over a treat of apples in autumnal sunshine, Mark Chilcott's feisty turkeys look pretty hefty. In fact, they're a smaller breed destined for downsized family dinners this Covid Christmas.
Image Credit: AFP
2 of 11
Chilcott, a 58-year-old organic farmer, prizes quality over quantity at his mixed farm of 440 acres (180 hectares) in Dorset, southwest England.
Image Credit: AFP
3 of 11
In the spring, as the coronavirus pandemic took hold, he anticipated no let-up to government curbs on how many people can mix indoors through the end of the year.
Image Credit: AFP
4 of 11
So he opted in April for smaller hatchlings from the "bronze" breed of turkey, favouring hens over the larger male stags, and a shrunken flock of 1,200 birds compared to the 1,500 he reared last year.
Image Credit: AFP
5 of 11
The hens will reach about 5-6 kilograms (11-13 pounds) in weight - half that of bronze stags, and one-third of the supersized supermarket turkeys which are the centrepiece for traditional British Christmas meals.
Image Credit: AFP
6 of 11
Chilcott says that is still plenty for a gathering under the government's "rule of six" in parts of England where households are still allowed to mix.
Image Credit: AFP
7 of 11
Restrictions are fast evolving, and many more families will likely be forbidden any visitors by December if infection rates remain high or rise further.
Image Credit: AFP
8 of 11
"If we run out of small sizes, then people have to have crowns or joints or half turkeys," the farmer told AFP after tossing fruit to his raucous black flock, a change on their usual diet of grain pellets.
Image Credit: AFP
9 of 11
"But we expect to sell out easily this year. Demand's really quite good... as far as sales go, we're ahead of last year."
Image Credit: AFP
10 of 11
Other farmers who took the wrong bet, hoping for restrictions to relax by the festive season, risk being saddled with oversized turkeys that could leave smaller family groups bloated with post-Yule curries and sandwiches.
Image Credit: AFP
11 of 11
British Poultry Council chief executive Richard Griffiths recommends those suppliers slaughter and freeze their birds earlier, before they have grown to full size.
Image Credit: AFP
This website stores cookies on your computer. These cookies are used to improve your experience and provide more personalized service to you.
Both on your website and other media. To find out more about the cookies and data we use, please check out our Privacy Policy.
