A turkey has escaped the chop this Christmas – because of an unlikely friendship with a guinea fowl.
The 44lbs turkey, called Raoul, has become inseperable from orphaned Pengu after they were born just days apart.
Both birds were incubated by the same mother turkey after a guinea fowl sneaked into Raoul’s mum’s hut when she was out and laid an egg in her nest.
They were hatched and raised as siblings and now spend all of their time together at Feufield Farm, in Symington, South Lanarkshire.
Farm owner Kim Adam, 54, said: “We saved Raoul’s mother Lola from the pot a couple of years ago and she has lived here ever since.
“They really are best friends. They even refuse to sleep apart.
“I don’t think Pengu knows she’s a guinea fowl because she won’t go near the
other birds that we have. She just stays by Raoul’s side.”
Kim rescued Raoul’s parents Lola and Guissepe [corr] from a state of neglect on
a turkey farm over two years ago.
Raoul was born soon after, followed by best pal Pengu a few days later.
Despite being different species the pair spend all day together with Raoul even using his gigantic size to protect his female friend, who weighs in at just four pounds.
Kim said: “A guinea fowl must have come in to her hut when she was away feeding and laid an egg next to her own because 18 months ago they were both born.
“Raoul and Pengu have been inseparable since then. They look bizarre hanging around together because of the difference in size.
“It certainly is an unusual friendship and they are very popular among visitors
to the farm.
“They have grown up together and even now at the end of the day Raoul sits
outside and waits for us to put him into the same hut as Pengu.
“He won’t sleep anywhere else. They are the best of friends.”
