Good morning and a very happy Friday! Here’s your morning start to get your day going.
In 1989, a stag turkey named Tyson weighed 86 lb. (39.09 kg), earning it the Guinness World Record of the greatest dressed weight recorded for a turkey.
Tyson won London, U.K.’s, last annual “heaviest turkey” competition on Dec. 12, 1989, and was later auctioned for charity.
A woman in Prince George who told police her dog was stolen was reunited with her pet after it was located about 600 kilometres away.
Sgt. Barry Kennedy of Chase RCMP reported in a news release that a Prince George woman called on Nov. 13 to say that about two months ago, her beloved 12-year-old Dachshund-cross was stolen from her residence.
She told officers she suspected a neighbour who had moved away around that time took the dog, but the neighbour denied any involvement.
When it comes to size, turkeys can grow surprisingly large. But just how big can these hefty birds get? Let’s take a look at the tale of the world’s biggest turkey ever recorded – an absolute giant named Tyson that tipped the scales at a whopping 86 pounds!
Introducing Tyson – The World Record Holder
In 1989 a stag (adult male) turkey named Tyson set the Guinness World Record for the heaviest turkey when he weighed in at a gobble-dropping 86 pounds at a competition in London.
To put Tyson’s massive size into perspective, here are some equivalent weights:
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86 pounds is the same as an adult human’s entire leg span!
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It’s equal to four standard bricks of gold!
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Tyson weighed as much as two typical 4-year-old kids in a trench coat disguise!
So as you can see, this was one tremendously large turkey! His record has yet to be broken over 30 years later.
Just How Big Was Tyson?
At 86 pounds, Tyson was estimated to be about 3 feet tall when standing upright.
To envision his sheer bulk, imagine a mid-sized dog like a beagle. Now picture that dog weighing over four times its normal weight – that was Tyson’s stature!
Tyson’s heft equaled that of a baby rhinoceros. He was even heavier than some giant panda cubs when they are first born.
So not only was Tyson the biggest turkey, he was bigger than many animals we think of as large!
Where Did Giant Gobbler Tyson Come From?
Tyson was raised in the UK on a farm owned by Leacroft Turkeys Ltd. Through selective breeding, Leacroft produced turkeys of staggeringly large sizes.
Tyson was their prized gobbler, becoming both their biggest bird and the world record holder.
What Happened to Tyson After His Triumph?
Winning the heavyweight championship led to fame and fortune for Tyson.
Right after being crowned the biggest turkey, he was sold at a charity auction in London for £4,400 – about $6,700 US dollars at the time.
His popularity and earnings show that giant gobblers like Tyson certainly have something to be thankful for!
Could There Be an Even Bigger Turkey Out There?
While no turkey yet has surpassed Tyson’s record, some have come close:
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In 2002, a 37.1 pound Rio Grande turkey was harvested in Oregon.
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In 2006, a 31.6 pound Merriam’s turkey was captured in California.
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In 2015, a 37.6 pound Eastern turkey was taken in Kentucky.
So while Tyson remains the reigning heavyweight champ for now, there may be some young giant gobblers still out there waiting to try and take his title!
The Legacy of Tyson the Turkey
Tyson achieved such remarkable proportions that he gained national fame at the time. To this day, he remains a legendary icon in the poultry world.
All turkey lovers and especially those who raise them owe Tyson a debt of gratitude for showing just how big this noble bird can get.
So next Thanksgiving when you sit down to carve your holiday bird, be sure to remember the tale of Tyson the turkey – the biggest, heaviest gobbler the world has ever seen!
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FAQ
Who has the biggest turkey?
What is the largest breed of wild turkey?
What is the biggest turkey killed in the world?
What’s the largest turkey ever cooked?
What is the heaviest Turkey in the world?
The Guinness World Record for the heaviest turkey in all the land is actually held across the pond. According to Guinness, the World Record for the heaviest-dressed turkey has been unmatched since 1989. It goes to a gobbling gentleman named Tyson, who weighed a whopping 86 pounds.
What is the largest turkey breed?
Several large turkey breeds are listed below, including weight and characteristics. The Standard Bronze turkey is one of the largest breeds, weighing 25 pounds. Breeding between European domestic turkeys and wild turkeys produced this breed, and they are often used for meat production.
Was Tyson the heaviest Turkey ever recorded?
Tyson, from Peterborough in the United Kingdom, wasn’t any old bird. He was the heaviest turkey ever recorded, setting a Guinness World Record back on December 12, 1989, that has not been bettered to this day. Tyson belonged to Philip Cook of Leacroft Turkeys Limited, and was measured at a “greatest dressed weight” of 86 lbs (39 kg).
What is the most common Turkey in North America?
But the North American turkeys are by far more populous and the most common turkey. There are 5 subspecies of North American turkeys. The Gould’s wild turkey is the largest, and the Eastern is the most populous. The Eastern and Merriam’s turkeys are the next largest, followed by the Osceola and Rio Grande.