Rebel turkey is no chicken

ONE short . . . Ben Lancaster is missing one of his wild American turkeys

CYNTHIA is missing... but fowl play isn’t suspected.

Ben Lancaster, who lives on a farm near Mills Hill Station, Chadderton, is concerned about one of his newest arrivals — a game bird which has made a break for freedom.

Cynthia, an 18-month-old wild American turkey, managed to fly away from the farm after feeding time last Monday and hasn’t been seen since.

Former demolition specialist, Ben (70), who has bred everything from giant pigs to miniature goats, owns eight of the turkeys.

He said: “Somehow two of them escaped. I think the lads were feeding them and left the pen unlocked, so I decided to let the others out because they like to come back in a flock together, but only seven returned.

“Cynthia is big, all-black, lanky and can be aggressive. These birds can only fly about 100 yards but she can run like mad!”

Ben doesn’t think Cynthia has been stolen but is worried about her well-being and wants her back home with her family.

He added: “I reckon she is roaming about in someone’s garden. I’m not too worried about her going hungry as I think someone is probably feeding her bread in their back yard and the foxes don’t give me any trouble.

“She likes perching on branches overnight so she could well have made a home in someone’s tree!”

“I don’t think she’s been stolen — she isn’t worth much — about £20, but I wouldn’t have sold her for £50 because she’s part of my long-running breeding programme.

“I had pigeons stolen last year, it is hard to see a lifelong enjoyment spoiled.”

Wild American turkeys have been in this country since the turn of the century.

They are amazingly alert, wary and nervous birds which vanish almost instantly when they detect a potential threat.

If anyone spots a black turkey and thinks it could be Cynthia, they can contact Ben on 07710-009 551.