Meet the Gobbler Monsters
Discover the adventure and journey of raising Ronald, Donald, and Fredrick before they head to the county fair this summer. As of 4/2 the Alameda County Fair has cancelled all Poultry and Dairy Cow shows for the 2025 season. Ronald and Donald are going to an online auction June 6 -8, 2025. More info to come.
The Gobbler Monsters Story
During the summer of 2024, Ralphie attended the county fair to support a number of his friends that were showing and selling their turkeys. He fell in love, and asked if he could particiapte in 4H for the upcoming year. In the fall of 2024, Ralphie joined the Crane Ridge 4H chapter in Livermore. He decided that he wanted to raise turkeys for the upcoming fair.
The Turkey Townhouse
After learning about food and treatment of animals, Ralphie wanted to raise his turkeys to live a healthy, happy life before heading to the fair. He has worked hard to ensure that they are loved and cared for daily. Because his turkeys hatched during a cold spell in mid-February, he started by placing them in a home with a heating blanket underneath them, a heating lamp above, and a brooder for them to rest under, ensuring that they were warm. As they have begun to grow and the weather warming, he takes them out to roam on our grass, promoting better animal welfare and healthier living conditions.
Life on our Suburban Homestead
As Ralphie has learned to care for his animals, he is documenting what life is like for his animals. To ensure that other critters don't attack or eat his turkeys, he lets them out on the grass in a gated area that has some shade above to keep out any flying prey, yet allowing sunlight to touch the soft feathers of his turkeys. Ralphie loves to show people his birds, and is happy to arrange a "tour" of the living environment and daily life of his turkeys. The initiative fostered strong community relationships and increased local support for our farm.
Adventures of the Gobbler Monsters
Ralphie has taken to caring for Ronald, Donald, and Fredrick. He has ensured that his turkeys are getting love daily as well as playing with them. As the weather warms, and the turkeys become bigger, they thrive being outside. Ralphie has built them a little ledge that they bask in daily. They love to forage in the grass and take dust baths in the bark.
Fun Facts About The Gobbler Monsters (AKA FAQs)
What types of turkeys are the Gobbler Monsters?
The fair requires only white feathered birds. Most common white feathered turkeys are known as the White Holland or Broad-Breasted Turkeys.
How big will the turkeys get by the time of the fair?
The turkeys will be between 20-25 pounds.
How old will the turkeys be by the time of the fair?
The turkeys will be roughly 20 weeks old and are considered fully matured.
How can I purchase a turkey if interested?
Crane Ridge 4H is creating an online auction to bid on Ronald and Donald. Once it is live we will share the link. This purchase is a donation and tax-deductible.
What do turkeys eat?
Baby turkeys start by eating a special feed called starter feed that is made up of different grains. At about six weeks, they can intergrate a grower feed which is made up of different grains, just has more protein for their growing bodies. (We buy only organic, non-GMO, non-soy, and non-corn blends.) They also like fresh apples, strawberries, and bananas. They also love Nicole's sourdough carrot cupcakes. (They helped celebrate the chicken's first birthday on April 8.)
Are turkeys easy to raise?
Yes. They are super easy. They love to hang out and just lay in the sun and eat everything in the bark and grass. They are fairly easy to handle. They get along with our chickens and dog too. They are also cleaner then raising chickens.
What is a male and female turkey called?
Male turkey's are called toms. Female turkeys are called hens. The Gobbler Monsters are all hens.
Do all turkey's gobble?
Yes. Turkeys make a number of different sounds besides a gobble. Female turkeys can also gobble, yet the Gobbler Monsters haven't gobbled yet.
Full Grown - How long is a turkey's wingspan?
The Broad Breasted White turkey can have a wing-span of 4 feet 1 inch to 4 feet 9 inches when it is fully grown.
Can turkey's fly? Can they jump?
The Broad Breasted White Turkey generally doesn't fly because it is so heavy and raised for it's meat. Wild Turkeys, however, can fly.
The Broad Breasted White Turkey can jump a few feet. Usually they are jumping on their feeder, water dispenser, or their lounging wall we have built for them.