Demand is high for not-too-big turkeys

ABOVE: Monique Labrecque of Hermit Brook Farm in Sanbornton does a call out in the turkey pen. Some of the 200 turkeys she has raised will be 30 pounders, and Labrecque says she has only 20 left unsold for Thanksgiving. Sales have been brisk with smaller groups of people are gathering for the holiday. BELOW: One of the turkey’s in the pen. GEOFF FORESTER photos / Monitor staff
Monique Labrecque, of Hermit Brook Farm in Sanbornton walks in the turkey pen on Tuesday, November 17, 2020 with the 16-week-old males that will be slaughtered starting on Wednesday morning. Some of the 200 turkeys she has raised will be 30 pounders. Labrecque says she has only 20 left unsold for Thanksgiving. Sales have been brisk with smaller groups of people are gathering for the holiday. GEOFF FORESTER—Monitor staff
One of the turkeys in the pen on Tuesday, November 17, 2020 with the 16-week-old males that will be slaughtered starting on Wednesday morning. Some of the 200 turkeys she has raised will be 30 pounders. Labrecque says she has only 20 left unsold for Thanksgiving. Sales have been brisk with smaller groups of people are gathering for the holiday. GEOFF FORESTER—Monitor staff
One of the turkeys at Hermit Brook Farm in the pen in Sanbornton on Tuesday, November 17, 2020 with the 16-week-old males that will be slaughtered starting on Wednesday morning. Some of the 200 turkeys she has raised will be 30 pounders. Labrecque says she has only 20 left unsold for Thanksgiving. Sales have been brisk with smaller groups of people are gathering for the holiday. GEOFF FORESTER / Monitor staff
Some of the turkeys at Hermit Brook Farm in the pen in Sanbornton on Tuesday, November 17, 2020 with the 16-week-old males that will be slaughtered starting on Wednesday morning. Some of the 200 turkeys she has raised will be 30 pounders. Labrecque says she has only 20 left unsold for Thanksgiving. Sales have been brisk with smaller groups of people are gathering for the holiday. GEOFF FORESTER—Monitor staff
Some of the turkeys at Hermit Brook Farm in the pen in Sanbornton on Tuesday, November 17, 2020 with the 16-week-old males that will be slaughtered starting on Wednesday morning. Some of the 200 turkeys she has raised will be 30 pounders. Labrecque says she has only 20 left unsold for Thanksgiving. Sales have been brisk with smaller groups of people are gathering for the holiday. GEOFF FORESTER—Monitor staff

Monitor staff

Published: 11/17/2020 6:19:57 PM

Wednesday is the big day for the roughly 200 turkeys at Hermit Brook Farm in Sanbornton, although the turkeys are not looking forward to it.

That’s the day the farm will begin slaughtering the birds it has sold for Thanksgiving dinners.

“Every year I sell out of turkeys – Thanksgiving hasn’t changed – except this year because they’re having small gatherings … they cancel their turkey, then called and wanted a smaller turkey, so it has been very confusing. But we will sell all of them, no problem,” said Monique Labrecque, who has been raising turkeys at the farm for two decades.

The turkeys weigh up to 30 pounds and are 16 weeks old.

Preparing the farm’s turkeys for cooking takes three or four days, probably lasting through Saturday night, Labrecque said.

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