Can Turkeys Really Drown If They Look Up In The Rain?
As Thanksgiving approaches, turkeys take center stage. Roasting a whole turkey and gathering around the table with family and friends to enjoy a hearty meal is a beloved tradition.
But turkeys have a reputation for being a bit dumb There’s even a myth that turkeys are so stupid, they will drown if they look up during a rainstorm! Is there any truth to this wacky belief? Let’s take a closer look at the facts
The Legend of the Drowning Turkeys
This tall tale has been around for ages. The story goes that domesticated turkeys are so dumb that if they look up at the falling rain, they become utterly fascinated. Transfixed by the raindrops, they forget to shut their beaks and end up drowning as the water fills their mouths and lungs.
I believed this as a kid, because my grandpa swore he had seen it happen on his farm. But is there any truth to this myth?
Where Did This Myth Come From?
There are a few different theories about the origin of this turkey tale:
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It may have started because young poults (baby turkeys) can accidentally drown if they are caught in a heavy rainstorm right after hatching. Their downy feathers get waterlogged, weighing them down. Because they cannot yet regulate their body temperature, they can die of hypothermia.
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The myth may be rooted in the fact that turkeys sometimes do appear to stare up at the sky with their mouths open. But they are not hypnotized by the rain – this posture is due to a genetic condition called tetanic torticollar spasms, causing temporary neck cramps.
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It might also stem from the fact that turkeys sometimes panic in storms. They huddle together, piling up in a frenzy. Those on the bottom can be smothered in the chaos.
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Perhaps people just want to mock turkeys as stupid creatures, lending some credibility to using “turkey” as an insult meaning a silly, incompetent person.
Are Turkeys As Dumb As They Seem?
Although domestic turkeys are not known for their intelligence, they have unfairly gained a reputation for being complete featherbrains. Here are some truths about their abilities:
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They have decent memories – turkeys can remember over 100 different faces of other individual turkeys for up to 5 years.
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They have good spatial skills and recall of environments, allowing them to navigate over large ranges. Feral turkeys in the wild can migrate over hundreds of miles.
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They have distinct personalities and strong social hierarchies within flocks.
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They experience REM sleep and dream, evidence of higher intelligence.
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They can run at speed up to 25 mph and fly in bursts up to 55 mph. So they aren’t completely uncoordinated.
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They are curious and playful, especially as poults. They will chase balls, play with toys, and seem to enjoy music.
So turkeys may not be the Einsteins of the animal kingdom, but they aren’t total featherheads either. They have valid abilities and instincts for survival.
Will Turkeys Really Drown in the Rain?
Given their physical abilities and level of intelligence, it is very unlikely a turkey will just stand there staring up and drowning with its mouth agape during a rainstorm. They may tilt their heads and pause briefly when feeling the first drops of rain. But they do not become so fixated on the sky that they would drown.
Domestic turkeys, while not geniuses, are not that easily hypnotized or confused. Even baby poults have self-preservation instincts. Turkeys may not be the smartest birds on the block, but they aren’t so dumb as to drown in the rain.
So while turkeys may lack brilliance, they do not lack basic common sense. Their reputation as total featherbrains is exaggerated. This silly myth can finally be put to rest this Thanksgiving as we pay tribute to the humble turkey!
No documented turkey drownings this way, Purdue University expert says
Its tough to be a turkey around Thanksgiving, but one thing the big birds dont have going against them is drowning in the rain.
There is an old wives tale that turkeys look up at the sky during the rain and drown. This is purely gobble gossip.
The myth started with a dash of truth. Like for most animals –and people– severe weather can be deadly.
Dr. Darrin M. Karcher, Extension Poultry scientist at Purdue University, said there hasnt been a documented case of turkeys drowning by looking up at the sky.
Purdue Agriculture’s Department of Animal Sciences is home to a nationally recognized poultry program. The program will provide a home and care for Peanut Butter and Jelly, the turkeys pardoned by President Joe Biden on Friday.
Before the mid-1980s turkeys were raised on pastures and not environmentally-controlled housing, severe weather might cause problems for turkeys.
“It would occasionally happen that a severe storm might happen causing problems resulting in turkey mortality. Even today, when turkeys are outside, if they don’t have a way to get into sufficient shelter or fully feathered because they are still young, then we can run into exposure problems,” Karcher said, but again, “nothing with drowning.”
The last bit of the myth that turkeys look up at the sky also has some fact to it.
“There are times that turkeys can be observed staring into the sky, but why that occurs is not known. There is a neurological disorder, very uncommon, that results in turkeys having a ‘spasm’ where they are looking toward the sky for 30-60 seconds of time,” Karcher said. “However, nothing to do with staring into the sky during a rain event resulting in drowning.”
Karcher said its hard to say whether turkeys are more intelligent than other poultry. Still, they are curious birds and habit-forming creatures.
“Turkeys are curious, always exploring the environment. Once they establish that the food is always located in this one area and the water is in another area, that is where they will always go to find it. If you swap the food and water locations, the turkeys will take a period of time to figure out the new locations of the food and water.” Download the FOX Weather App Available on iOS & Android
Ava: Why Turkeys, Rain Don’t Mix
FAQ
Are turkeys okay in the rain?
Can turkey stay out in the rain?
How do turkeys react to rain?
Should you turkey call in the rain?
Why do turkeys panic when it rains?
They are weak, fat, not agile, cannot fly, nor can they run fast. For this reason, turkeys find it difficult for them to survive by themselves in an unprotected environment. Therefore, they tend to panic when something unusual such as rains occurs.
Will a Turkey drown in the rain?
The answer is no. A turkey will not drown in the rain. Turkeys are naturally curious, including about the rain. Usually, when a turkey dies during a rainstorm it is because they have been scared by thunder or lightning and have panicked to death. We shed more light on this particular myth in subsequent paragraphs.
Do turkeys look up to see rain?
Turkeys do not look up in order to “see” rain. Turkeys, like most birds, do not have binocular vision (i.e., the ability to focus both eyes on the same object); they have eyes set on opposite sides of their heads, a feature which gives them a greater field of vision and thus enables them more effectively spot potential predators.
Can turkeys die if it rains?
Although, young turkeys can fall ill and die of respiratory complications if they are soaked through and cannot get warm enough to dry properly. Baby turkeys can also drown in the rain if left alone, so you must keep them safe and dry when it rains. What Do Wild Turkeys Do When It Rains?