Brevard Zoo Welcomes First-Ever Turkey Chicks

Osceola turkey chicks were hatched to mom Giblet on September 9 and 10 at @Brevard Zoo. These chicks are the first of their species to hatch at the Zoo. The Zoo’s small flock of turkeys has lived at the Zoo since September 2020, and although the females had laid eggs in the past, they had not produced any chicks until recently. The chicks’ sire, Green Bean Casserole, lives with Giblet and other female turkeys Gravy and Cranberry. This food-named flock had previously lived in a habitat near the Zoo’s Wild Florida entrance with white-tailed deer Persimmon and Baird’s tapir Josie. Over the past few months, the Zoo’s animal care team made some changes to the animals’ habitats, including renovating the large area by Florida black bears to house turkeys, Persimmon and four-month-old deer fawn Plum. The reason for breeding success could be the new space, but animal care staff cannot say for certain. Green Bean Casserole may have also become more interested in his fellow female turkeys.