Happy Thanksgiving. Here's a list of turkey facts, you might find of interest. • Ben Franklin, in a letter to his daughter, proposed the turkey as the official United States bird. • In 2000, the average American ate 17.75 pounds of turkey. • The heaviest turkey ever raised was 86 pounds, about the size of a large dog. • A 15 pound turkey usually has about 70 percent white meat and 30 percent dark meat. • The male turkey is called a tom. • The female turkey is called a hen. • 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. • Wild turkeys can run 20 miles per hour. • Turkeys' heads change colors when they become excited. • Most of the turkeys raised for commercial production are White Hollands. • It takes 75-80 pounds of feed to raise a 30 pound tom turkey. • A domesticated male turkey can reach a weight of 30 pounds within 18 weeks after hatching. • Forty-five million turkeys are eaten each Thanksgiving. • Twenty-two million turkeys are eaten each Christmas. • Nineteen million turkeys are eaten each Easter. • Male turkeys gobble. Hens do not. They make a clicking noise. • Turkeys have heart attacks. The United States Air Force was doing test runs and breaking the sound barrier. Nearby turkeys dropped dead with heart attacks. • The five most popular ways to serve leftover turkey is as a sandwich, stew or soup, salad, casserole and stir-fry. Have a great Thanksgiving! If you'd like to see more odd Turkey facts - visit the University of Illinois Urban Extension's Web site at www.urbanext.uiuc.edu.
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