Let’s talk turkey!

Hey kids, do you like white meat or dark meat turkey at Thanksgiving? And why do turkeys have dark and white meat, anyway? In a turkey the active muscles such as the legs store a lot of oxygen and become dark, while less active muscles like the breast remain white. Turkeys can fly short distances — typically from ground to perch — but they are not known for their flying abilities. They rely on their legs to get them around. The active muscles, such as the legs and thighs, are full of blood vessels. These blood vessels contain myoglobin (or muscle hemoglobin), which delivers oxygen to the muscles. The more myoglobin the muscles contain, the darker the muscle.

On the other hand, white meat is the result of well-rested muscles. The breast muscles, which are used for flying, are hardly used by turkeys. There is no need to have a rich supply of oxygen delivered to these muscles.

More Turkey Facts!

• According to a survey by the National Turkey Federation, 88% of Americans eat turkey on Thanksgiving.

• 46 million turkeys are eaten each Thanksgiving.

• 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.

• Turkeys can see movement almost 100 yards away.

• Turkeys lived almost ten million years ago.

• It takes 75-80 pounds of feed to raise a 30 pound tom turkey.

• Male turkeys gobble. Hens do not. They make a clicking noise.

• Turkeys do not really have ears like ours, but they have very good hearing.

• Turkeys can see in color, but they do not see well at night.

• A large group of turkeys is called a flock.

• Commercially raised turkeys cannot fly.

• Wild turkeys spend the night in trees. They prefer oak trees.

• Wild turkeys can fly for short distances up to 55 mph and can run 20 mph.

• Turkeys will have 3,500 feathers at maturity.

• The costume that “Big Bird” wears on Sesame Street is rumored to be made of turkey feathers.

• Turkeys have a long, red, fleshy growth called the snood from the base of the beak that hangs down over the beak.

• The bright red fleshy growth under a turkey’s throat is called a wattle.