Talking turkey! Families flock to buy their Christmas bird at annual poultry auction

Talking turkey! Families flock to buy their Christmas bird at annual poultry auction of farm-reared turkeys, geese and chickens

  • Punters flock to auction house for farm-reared turkeys, geese and chickens for their Christmas dinner feasts
  • Customers could buy some of the birds as oven-ready while others stuffed festive turkeys into their car boots
  • The poultry sale held by C&D Auction Marts takes place every year at Longtown Auction market in Carlisle
  • Animal rights protesters even held a candle-lit vigil outside event- alongside a ‘Rest in Peace’ message board 

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Buyers stuffed turkeys into their car boots as they dashed to secure a prize farm-reared bird in time for Christmas Day.

More than 400 lots of turkeys, chickens and geese were today auctioned off at Longtown Auction market’s annual Christmas sale in Carlisle, held by C&D Auctions.

Punters could buy their poultry from as early as 10am, and sure enough they flocked in to browse the farm-reared birds on offer.

Customers trying to avoid the supermarket queues could even buy some of the birds oven-ready at the Christmas poultry sale. 

They were seen browsing the rough plucked birds before bidding to take them home in time for a Christmas Day feast. They even stuffed them into their car boots, while others put their poultry in plastic bags to take home.

A tiny number of animal rights protesters held a candle-lit vigil for the dead birds outside the event.

They even had a message board with ‘Rest in Peace’ written on it, along with a sign saying ‘They wanted to live’.

I want that one! Customers are pictured browsing the rough-plucked birds to buy. They dashed to secure a prize farm-reared bird in time for their dinners on Christmas Day

An auction staff member is pictured inspecting the birds before they go up for sale. The dead turkeys are pictured with tags on ready for the sale

An auction staff member is pictured inspecting the birds before they go up for sale. The dead turkeys are pictured with tags on ready for the sale

Gavel garble! The auctioneer is seen with her gavel in hand as one bird prepares to go under the hammer and get sold to the highest bidder

A member of the auction staff is pictured above holding a plucked turkey during the sale

Gavel garble! The auctioneer is seen with her gavel in hand, left, as one bird prepares to go under the hammer and get sold to the highest bidder. A member of the auction staff is pictured right holding a plucked turkey during the sale

More than 400 lots of turkeys, chickens and geese were today auctioned off at Longtown Auction market's annual Christmas sale in Carlisle. Buyers are pictured inside the auction room above

More than 400 lots of turkeys, chickens and geese were today auctioned off at Longtown Auction market’s annual Christmas sale in Carlisle. Buyers are pictured inside the auction room above

This turkey has already been stuffed- into a car boot by auction staff! One buyer loaded up his car full of turkeys during the sale, with staff even having to lend a hand

This turkey has already been stuffed- into a car boot by auction staff! One buyer loaded up his car full of turkeys during the sale, with staff even having to lend a hand

Other buyers used plastic bags for their farm-reared buys. Customers flocked in to browse the birds on offer in a bid to beat the supermarket queues

Other buyers used plastic bags for their farm-reared buys. Customers flocked in to browse the birds on offer in a bid to beat the supermarket queues

Customers could even buy some of the birds oven-ready at the Christmas sale, which takes place every year. Punters are pictured looking at a bag of poultry

Customers could even buy some of the birds oven-ready at the Christmas sale, which takes place every year. Punters are pictured looking at a bag of poultry

Ready...steady...sale! Auction buyers are pictured with their cards in hand ready to bid on birds.

Ready…steady…sale! Auction buyers are pictured with their cards in hand ready to bid on birds. 

Buyers are pictured inspecting turkeys before they are sold at auction

Buyers are pictured inspecting turkeys before they are sold at auction

Outside the bustle of the annual market, it wasn't a silent night for these animal rights protesters who held a candle-lit vigil for the dead birds. They are even pictured signing a message board with 'Rest in Peace' written on it, along with a sign saying 'They wanted to live'

Outside the bustle of the annual market, it wasn’t a silent night for these animal rights protesters who held a candle-lit vigil for the dead birds. They are even pictured signing a message board with ‘Rest in Peace’ written on it, along with a sign saying ‘They wanted to live’

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk