Free range Christmas turkeys

Kelinik

Has anyone ordered their turkey yet and if so how did you find where to get them from? My usual farm only has chickens and I can't find anywhere saying turkey on bigbarn. I know its only October but I don't want to leave it too late!!

thriftlady_2

I get mine from my butcher. They are much cheaper around this time of the year. A couple of years ago I bought one in October and put it in the freezer till Christmas. By Christmas the price had trebled.

Fruball

http://www.jimmysfarm.com/shop/index.cfm/fa/shop/Category_ID/12

Do you watch Jimmy's Farm on BBC2 ? Its fab - Jamie Oliver's friend has started a rare breed pig farm nr Ipswich and he sells free range, very well looked after turkeys at Xmas - try the link.

Hope that helps And its a good website for other meat things too

irishwexford

We went to Jimmys Farm last week and o/h bought some meat. We had the pork chops yesterday and boy were they worth the £9.50 the two cost. He has no turkeys there but does sell free range chickens from a local supplier so I guess he must buy turkeys from him for Christmas. We buy our free range bird from our local butcher, costs an arm and a leg but its worth it even though o/h works for Bernies so he gets a free one.

tipsychick

I've ordered from Kelly Turkeys several times in the past. The quality is superb. I've often seen Nigella et al recommend them.

http://www.kelly-turkeys.com/kellybronze-turkeys-chickens-default.aspx?m=1&mi=41&title=Home%20Page

floyd

Buy ours from here, its fabulous but unfortunately miles away from you http://www.thescotchbeefshop.co.uk/ just thought I would post for anyone in the North West

Fruball

Jimmys Farm do the turkeys mail order on the website

Seakay

Kelinik wrote: »

Has anyone ordered their turkey yet and if so how did you find where to get them from? My usual farm only has chickens and I can't find anywhere saying turkey on bigbarn. I know its only October but I don't want to leave it too late!!

This farm is in your county
http://www.hampshirefarmersmarkets.co.uk/profiles/producer_detail.asp?ID=34
and if you explore the site you may find others

Desperate_Housewife_2-2

I have just found a place that will deliver to my area and supplies organic/ethically treated turkeys but it seems really expensive. It would work out at least £62 for a turkey! Its £10 per kg and the smallest is 5KG and delivery is £12. I can't spend that much on a bird, I know we would get loads of meals out of it but it seems a lot.

It throws up a lot of issues for me does this one. Is this the price we would be paying if food wasn't mass produced? There are people starving in the world and here I am contemplating buying a piece of meat for 4 of us that would feed an army. I don't like the thought of supporting an industry that doesn't care for its animals and even though they are going to be eaten I would prefer thay were treated fairly. Also the environmental impact is a worry.

Ethical dilemma...should I go for it with a clear conscience or go for a mass produced tortured one from the supermarket?

They don't call me desperate housewife for nothing!

Seakay

Or you could go for a third option - something completely different! Free range chicken is cheaper than turkey and you can get some really large birds. Goose was traditional before turkey was, although they can be expensive as well. Pheasant is good and can be treaty - could buy a brace now and freeze if you are worried about supply nearer the time. Duck is a large bird, cheaper than turkey but still quite a treat and you get the benefit of fat to store in the same way as you do with a goose.
Free range birds require more looking after with more man power and more expensive feed and this is reflected in the price.
I think that by and large the price reflects the true cost, and so you do have to regard the meat as much more of an infrequent treat, but this also makes sense in enviromental terms as meat requires a lot more land space to rear in terms of living space and nutrition than vegetables and grains do.

[Deleted User]

As a child in the late 1940s early 50s turkey was a far-away place where sinbad lived .We always had chicken, and rarely was turkey in the shops anyway .It was usually a large chicken, and maybe a nice ham or sometimes a leg of pork if my Mum was flush ,not that it happened very often .I never tasted turkey until I was married in 1960.I must admit I can't see the point of it as I always think that it is too dry and a bit boring after a couple of days .I would far rather have a decent ham on the bone Far more extra meals for your money plus The bone can go into the SC with peas and a few carrots and onions or leeks for a lovely thick gloopy pea and ham soup