A ‘mother hen’ who lets her two pet TURKEYS live in her home and fall asleep on her shoulder believes they are the UK’s cleverest - thanks to their nurtured upbringing.

Debi Monk, 57, has read the birds a bedtime story and tucked them in under blankets every night since they hatched in her dining room earlier this year.

Their close bond means she has managed to train Flower and Gook how to tell colours apart and respond to commands like a dog due to their raised intelligence.

She said: “I would definitely say they are the UK’s cleverest turkeys. The way they behave is pretty much unheard of.

“Gook can play the keyboard, and they can both kick a ball on command, ‘lie down’ and ‘give a foot’ like when you ask your dog to ‘give a paw’.

“They can also recognise colours, if I say ‘peck red’ they peck red and so on, they are ever so clever and they love their reward, which is some spinach.”

“To have them doing all these tasks is pretty unusual, even in the USA where people are more extreme.

“It’s all down to the way they’re reared. If you give something the chance to shine, it gives it the opportunity to thrive.”

Podiatrist Debi set her sights on hatching turkeys earlier this year and was disappointed when her first attempt was unsuccessful.

But she was delighted when Flower and Gook hatched from their shells in July.

“I loved them the moment that they hatched, and reared them in the dining room, which was a very new experience,” said Debi, from Bromsgrove, Worcestershire.

“They are just like my own children. I was so surprised as my only previous experience with turkeys was my Christmas dinner!

“I do bodybuilding and so I used to eat an awful lot of turkey as protein but right from birth, they were so affectionate.

“They are intelligent, sensitive and love to have their armpits tickled. They will chat to me around the house and wait for me to chat back to them, it’s amazing.”

Debi, who has previously trained horses and dogs, decided to see how the turkeys would respond if encouraged to carry out basic tasks - and she was astonished to see the results.

She said: “I did a little bit of research but couldn’t see much so I thought, I wonder if I can train birds. I’d never have guessed they could be so sensitive and intelligent.

“They are so clever so they love training, and even though they are still so young they are like dogs, and pick things up really quickly.

“They model natural behaviour and even take part in reciprocal grooming so when I stroke them, they will even groom my hair.

“I believe you can train any animal to some extent if you just give it the time and energy to learn.”

Flower and Gook’s turkey talents have been recognised after Debi entered them into an all animals agility competition.

Judges were so impressed with the pair that they awarded them second and third place rosettes.

Mum-of-three Deb, who shares her home with husband Richard, 74, and son Tristan, 21, added: “Raising Flower and Gook has given me a whole new perspective.

“It has changed my life. Never did I think I’d love these turkeys in the way that I do.

“I definitely will not be having turkey at Christmas ever again. It’ll be a nut roast for us this year!”

A ‘mother hen’ who lets her two pet TURKEYS live in her home and fall asleep on her shoulder believes they are the UK’s cleverest - thanks to their nurtured upbringing.

Debi Monk, 57, has read the birds a bedtime story and tucked them in under blankets every night since they hatched in her dining room earlier this year.

Their close bond means she has managed to train Flower and Gook how to tell colours apart and respond to commands like a dog due to their raised intelligence.

She said: “I would definitely say they are the UK’s cleverest turkeys. The way they behave is pretty much unheard of.

“Gook can play the keyboard, and they can both kick a ball on command, ‘lie down’ and ‘give a foot’ like when you ask your dog to ‘give a paw’.

“They can also recognise colours, if I say ‘peck red’ they peck red and so on, they are ever so clever and they love their reward, which is some spinach.”

“To have them doing all these tasks is pretty unusual, even in the USA where people are more extreme.

“It’s all down to the way they’re reared. If you give something the chance to shine, it gives it the opportunity to thrive.”

Podiatrist Debi set her sights on hatching turkeys earlier this year and was disappointed when her first attempt was unsuccessful.

But she was delighted when Flower and Gook hatched from their shells in July.

“I loved them the moment that they hatched, and reared them in the dining room, which was a very new experience,” said Debi, from Bromsgrove, Worcs.

“They are just like my own children. I was so surprised as my only previous experience with turkeys was my Christmas dinner!

“I do bodybuilding and so I used to eat an awful lot of turkey as protein but right from birth, they were so affectionate.

“They are intelligent, sensitive and love to have their armpits tickled. They will chat to me around the house and wait for me to chat back to them, it’s amazing.”

Debi, who has previously trained horses and dogs, decided to see how the turkeys would respond if encouraged to carry out basic tasks - and she was astonished to see the results.

She said: “I did a little bit of research but couldn’t see much so I thought, I wonder if I can train birds. I’d never have guessed they could be so sensitive and intelligent.

“They are so clever so they love training, and even though they are still so young they are like dogs, and pick things up really quickly.

“They model natural behaviour and even take part in reciprocal grooming so when I stroke them, they will even groom my hair.

“I believe you can train any animal to some extent if you just give it the time and energy to learn.”

Flower and Gook’s turkey talents have been recognised after Debi entered them into an all animals agility competition.

Judges were so impressed with the pair that they awarded them second and third place rosettes.

Mum-of-three Deb, who shares her home with husband Richard, 74, and son Tristan, 21, added: “Raising Flower and Gook has given me a whole new perspective.

“It has changed my life. Never did I think I’d love these turkeys in the way that I do.

“I definitely will not be having turkey at Christmas ever again. It’ll be a nut roast for us this year!”