Frequently Asked Questions


What makes our Christmas turkeys taste so delicious?

We use traditional artisan methods of production for all our turkeys meaning they are:

  • Slow grown and reared by hand for 25 weeks

  • Living in a natural environment

  • Never given additives for growth promotion

  • Dry plucked by hand

  • Dry aged and game hung for two weeks

What do our turkeys eat?

A naturally sourced, unique tailored diet consisting of:

  • Wheat

  • Oats

  • Rapeseed

  • Soya

  • Vegetable oils

NO added drugs, additives or growth promotion

Who do we supply our Christmas turkeys to?

All our Christmas turkeys are sold directly to butcher shops, local farm shops and local customers.

Are our Christmas turkeys #farmtotable?

We purchase our bronze feathered turkeys from Kellys Turkeys hatchery and our white feathered turkeys from Hockenhull hatchery at just one day old. We rear them here at Forest Lodge farm to full maturity, before processing them by hand on site. As soon as they are oven ready we distribute them directly to our customers, butcher shops and farm shops to guarantee the freshest possible bird.

What is the difference between a bronze feathered turkey and white feathered turkey?

Our bronze feathered turkeys are reared in a free-range environment where they have access to roam freely and forage in a five acre field. Our white feathered turkeys are housed in spacious naturally ventilated barns, where a fresh bedding of straw is provided daily. Both our bronze and white turkeys are fed on the same natural diet.

 

Do we have specific industry quality and welfare standards?

We are members of the TFTA (Traditional Farmfresh Turkey Association) and Golden Turkey Quality Assurance Guarantee. All members must meet the highest industry standards, including regular checks from Kiwa and PAI auditors.

 

What is a turkey crown?

The breast of the bird still attached to the bone with the legs and wings removed.

 

How long have we been rearing Christmas turkeys?

For over 60 years, spanning four generations of the Wreathall family.

 

How can you collect your Christmas turkey?

All orders can be collected from our farm shop, which is located directly opposite the Ship Pub on Stock Road in Stock, Essex. In order to keep the collections process as quick as possible for us customers, we operate a drive through service allowing customers to stay in their car whilst our staff bring their Chistmas turkey out to them.

Collections open on the 23rd of December from 8am to 4pm and the 24th December from 8am to 3pm. If you would like to collect your order on a different date, please contact us privately when you place your order and we will try our best to arrange this for you.

 

Can we deliver your Christmas turkey?

Unfortunately we do not have the capacity to deliver orders directly to you, however if you are in a vulnerable group, shielding and are concerned about collection please contact us directly and we will do all we can to help.

 

Do we sell any other products?

On collection days, we will be selling a limited selection of sausages, bacon and other products sourced from our local butcher shop.

 

Any other questions?

Please do not hesitate to contact us directly, we are always happy to hear from our customers.