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Daughter-chasing turkey finds new Fen home

John Devine/BBC Debbie Foley with Turkey-LurkyJohn Devine/BBC
Debbie Foley, who transported the bird in the back of her car and not the front seat, showed how easy it was to get Turkey-Lurky to follow her anywhere

A turkey that needed a new home because it kept chasing its owner's daughter has found one - and three new turkey companions, to boot.

Paul Griffiths made a plea for a new owner for Turkey-Lurky and animal lover Debbie Foley came forward.

She took the "temperamental turkey" to her sanctuary about 12 miles (19km) away in Stonea, Cambridgeshire.

Ms Foley said Lurky now had his "forever home" with her other turkeys, Colin, Stanley and Jenny.

Turkey-Lurky found feathery fame - or infamy - when Mr Griffiths said he could no longer cope with the territorial turkey and a number of destructive ducks - all of whom were rescue birds.

John Devine/BBC Paul Griffiths with Turkey-LurkyJohn Devine/BBC
Paul Griffiths with Turkey-Lurky - a large bird that chased his daughter around the garden

Between them, they were laying waste to Mr Griffiths's Guyhirn garden, chasing his daughter, and scaring the family's dogs.

Something had to give, and Ms Foley, who already has quite the menagerie of rescued birds, spotted his plea and came to the rescue last weekend.

She is now the proud owner of Turkey-Lurky and five of Mr Grffiths's Muscovy ducks.

John Devine/BBC Ducks and chickens and a turkeyJohn Devine/BBC
Paul Griffiths' Fenland home was overrun with feathered fowl, flocking to feed at the back door

"If I can give it a home, I'll give it a home," she said.

Mr Griffiths had made it clear he did not want his turkey or his ducks to end up on a Christmas dinner table, and thankfully for the birds, Ms Foley is vegetarian.

Asked if the resident turkeys were getting on with the new addition, she said: "When I got [Lurky], he was chirping away to Colin, and Colin did get on top of him - but nothing happened."

She said one or both might have been a little "confused".

John Devine/BBC Turkey-LurkyJohn Devine/BBC
Turkey-Lurky has made new friends at his "home for life"

Ms Foley admitted she was unsure how her neighbour would take to the new turkey as "she's already terrified of Colin - because he can be a bit aggressive".

However, she added: "Turkey-Lurky now has a home for life."

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