When sanctuary visitors meet our resident turkeys, including Jordan who is featured in this blog post, for the first time, many people are amazed by these birds’ intelligence, engagement and hospitality. Not only are turkeys enduring individuals, we are also quite interesting. We’re delighted to share interesting facts about our favorite birds:
1. Turkeys love shades of red.
2. An adult turkey has over 3,500 feathers on his or her body.
3. Female turkeys lay freckled eggs.
4. An adult male turkey is a tom; an adult female turkey is a hen; a young male turkey is a jake; a young female turkey is a jenny; a baby turkey (male and female) is a poult.
5. Turkeys eat rocks to aid in the digestion of food.
6. The normal body temperature of a turkey is between 105 and 107°F.
7. Turkeys are native to North America.
8. Founding Father, Ben Franklin called for the turkey to be the national bird of the United States of America.
9. In the wild, turkeys can glide as fast as 55 miles per hour.
10. Turkeys have excellent eye sight. However, they cannot see well after dark.
Please be our guest at the second annual Toast to the Turkeys Celebration on Saturday, November 12th in honor of the rescued turkeys of Harvest Home Animal Sanctuary. Register online by Wednesday, November 9th.
September 25th, 2011
“I have always wanted a bunny and I’ll always have a rabbit the rest of my life.” - Amy Sedaris
September 24th, 2011
Starting today, Harvest Home Animal Sanctuary’s blog will be updated daily through December 31st. For the last 100 days of 2011, you will have a chance to virtually meet our wonderful residents and learn about the many opportunities to become involved in our work.
For Day 1 of our blog series, we are pleased to introduce you to Gunner the Runner Duck. He is a spirited young drake who was discarded after an animal science hatching school project was completed. Today, he spends his days literally running around with his duck buddies and searching for worms in the mud. To become Gunner’s sponsor, check out our website!
September 23rd, 2011
On September 16, 2011, Harvest Home Animal Sanctuary welcomed a new turkey to the flock from a California animal sanctuary that is going through some tough times. We named the new turkey Kimo. Our newest resident paid a visit to the white turkeys across the fence this morning. The turkeys were quite unwelcoming of Kimo during the first encounter.
Just wait until Kimo meets Kona, our resident turkey bachelor, in the coming weeks. We hope to pair up Kimo and Kona. In the meantime, Kimo is looking for a monthly sponsor to warmly welcome him to the sanctuary. Photos of Kimo’s introduction to the flock are online.
September 17th, 2011
Today is the kick-off of Harvest Home Heroes’ first mini fundraiser in honor of Vanessa, a disabled chicken at the sanctuary. When Vanessa hatched out of her shell for a poultry science project at a California State University (CSU) campus, her right leg was noticeably splayed. As she grew, her extreme leg deformity did not correct itself. You can read Vanessa’s back story online.
To add insult to injury, Vanessa recently developed a massive pus-filled lump along her sternum–most likely due to the ongoing strain of her leg deformity. Our avian vet specialist at Oakley’s Medical Center for Birds recommends a surgical intervention that would provide improved mobility for Vanessa.
Two years ago, Donald the Rooster underwent a similar procedure. A few short days after his leg surgery, Donald began walking. His recovery was amazing. With your help today, the same can be true for Vanessa.
Vanessa’s current condition is a classic example of why Harvest Home operates: To rescue and rehab unwanted animals.
Help us raise $1,000 for Vanessa’s surgery by September 22nd. At the sanctuary, our healthcare fund is a lifeline to aid the two hundred rescued animals who reside at our Stockton-based rescue center. Donations for Vanessa’s care can be made on Harvest Home Heroes’ page (HarvestHomeHeroes.org) or by mail (Harvest Home, Attn: Vanessa’s Fund, P.O. Box 998, French Camp, CA).
September 14th, 2011
Harvest Home Animal Sanctuary’s 5 resident guinea pigs just got surprise habitat makeovers with brand new hand-made Piggy BedSpreads from Martha at www.PiggyBedSpreads.com! Seth, Red, and DeDe live together in a cubes & coroplast habitat on a six-foot long table, with a great view of everything that happens in the rabbit building. Rufus and Amos are two friendly guinea pig boys who live in a large cage on a stand, on the other side of the room in the rabbit building.
Previously, Harvest Home used a recycled paper bedding to line the bottom of the guinea pig enclosures. However, thanks to the generosity of PiggyBedSpreads.com, the new habitats have eco-friendly, reusable, washable Piggy BedSpreads! They are designed to wick moisture away from the guinea pigs, and into the middle layer of the bedspread, with a waterproof base layer that prevents urine from leaking through. Poops are sweeped up regularly, and the BedSpreads are washed weekly. Not only are the new Piggy BedSpreads much more cost effective for the sanctuary, but the top fleece layer is softer on little piggy feet, and the flat surface encourages piggies to run laps and play. In addition, the colors of the Piggy BedSpreads brighten up the rabbit room.
A big thank you to www.PiggyBedSpreads.com for donating the guinea pig habitat makeover. Only one of Harvest Home Animal Sanctuary’s wonderful resident guinea pigs currently has a sponsor - for only $10 a month, you can make a big impact in the life of one of these special guinea pigs! As a sponsor, you will receive a sponsorship certificate and photograph and email updates of your sponsoree. Sponsorships make marvelous gifts for your animal-loving family and friends. Sign up here!
September 11th, 2011
Have you ever wondered what Mohawk the Pig looked like when he was young? Photographs of Mohawk in his early days were sent recently to Harvest Home Animal Sanctuary by Nancy and Robert Redding, an Elk Grove, Calif. couple who rescued him from being mauled to death by dogs. Mohawk’s road to recovery from the canine attack was a long process. Judging by the photographs, he enjoyed one and a half years of bliss with Nancy and Robert.
Click here to view a slideshow of our beloved Mohawk before his arrival at our sanctuary.
September 10th, 2011
Don’t miss the next adoption event featuring Harvest Home Animal Sanctuary’s adoptable rabbits on Sunday, September 25 from 11 am to 2 pm. The event will take place at the EBSPCA Adoption Center, Tri-Valley (4651 Gleason Drive, Dublin). For more information, visit the East Bay SPCA website.
September 8th, 2011
On Labor Day 2011, Austen Burt along with the assistance of Troop 502 of Tracy, California completed his Eagle Scout project at Harvest Home Animal Sanctuary. A climbing structure for the female goats was constructed today. To view photos of Austen’s two-day scout project, click here. Please visit our blog in the coming weeks for photographs of the goats enjoying the new climbing structures.
Photo Caption: Boy Scout Troop 502 of Tracy with Grandpa the Dog watching Coconut the Goat.
September 5th, 2011
Grant the Rabbit is among the newest adoptables with Harvest Home Animal Sanctuary. We participate in a rabbit adoption faire at the East Bay SPCA in Dublin on the first Saturday of every month. Click here to view photos from this month’s adoption event.
Photo Credit of “Grant The Rabbit”: Ian Elwood.
September 4th, 2011
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