“Why did the chicken cross the road?”/“To get to the other side” is a classic riddle from the 19th century. Turkey versions have been popular, especially around Thanksgiving. “Why does a turkey cross the road? For some fowl reason of its own” was printed in 1962 newspapers. “Why does a turkey cross the road? To get to Mexico, where they don’t celebrate Thanksgiving” was printed in 1973 newspapers.
 
A popular version was printed in May 1975 newspapers:
 
Q: Why did the turkey cross the road?
A: To prove he wasn’t a chicken.
 
Another popular version was cited in a November 1990 newspaper:
 
Q: Why did the turkey cross the road?
A: It was the chicken’s day off.
 
“Why did the turkey cross the road/table?”/“To get to the other sides” is another turkey riddle.
   
   
5 August 1962, Sentinel-Record (Hot Springs, AR), “Riddles,” Family Weekly, pg. 20, col. 3:
Why does a turkey cross the road?
For some fowl reason of its own.
 
19 November 1973, Lexington (KY( Leader, “Turkey Tomfoolery,” pg. 6, col. 3:
“Why does a turkey cross the road?” asks a current card. The Answer: “To get to Mexico, where they don’t celebrate Thanksgiving.”
 
3 May 1975, Piqua (OH) Daily Call, “Mini Jokes,” The Mini Page, pg. 2, col. 1:
Q. Why did the turkey cross the road?
A. To prove he wasn’t a chicken.
(...)
Sallie Freeman
     
29 January 1984, Newsday (Long Island, NY), Kisday, pg. J7, col. 3:
Why did the turkey cross the road?
To prove he wasn’t a chicken.
—David Martucci, Bayside
 
18 November 1984, Newsday (Long Island, NY), “Smiles,” Kisday, pg. G1, col. 3:
Why didn’t the turkey cross the road?
Because he was stuffed.
- Gerald Roberts, Garden City
 
21 November 1990, Iowa City (A) Press-Citizen, “Kids talk turkey to lift spirits” by Kanchalee Svetvilas, pg. 4A, col. 6:
For example, one student came up with, “Why did the turkey cross the road?” The answer: It was the chicken’s day off.
 
9 August 1991, The News Journal (Wilmington, DE), “Just for Laughs,” pg. 16, col. 1:
Q. Why did the turkey cross the road?
A. It was the chicken’s day off.
Stephen Donophan, age 11
Felton
 
Google Books
Kids’ Funniest Jokes
Edited by Sheila Anne Barry
Illustrated by Jeff Sinclair
New York, NY: Sterling Publishing Company, Inc.
1993
Pg. 80:
Why did the turkey cross the road?
Because the chicken retired and moved to Florida.
DYNISE BRISSON, 8
 
6 November 1994, Washington (DC) Post, “Children’s Books” by Michael Dirda, Book World, pg. 10, col. 2:
Why did the turkey cross the road? It was the chicken’s day off.
   
Google Books
The Little Giant Book of Riddles
By Joseph Rosenbloom
Illustrated by Sanford Hoffman
New York, NY: Sterling Publishing Company, Inc.
1996
Pg. 279:
Why did the turkey cross the road?
It was the chicken ‘s day off.
 
Google Groups: alt.humor.puns
Puns of the Weak: Special Thanksgiving Edition]
Stan Kegel
11/15/01
(...)
Why did the turkey cross the road?
To show that he wasn’t chicken.
 
Google Books
Penguin Pocket Jokes
By David Pickering
New York, NY: Penguin Books
2006
Pg. ?:
Why did the turkey cross the road?
To prove he wasn’t chicken.
 
Twitter
Dafyd Jones
‏@dafyd
why did the turkey cross the road? to prove he wasn’t chicken
6:10 PM - 9 Feb 2007
 
Twitter
Rainy
‏@rainyz
Why did the turkey cross the road? It was the chicken’s day off. Wa Wa Waaaaaaaaaaaaa. =/
5:49 AM - 24 Nov 2008
   
Google Books
Thanksgiving Turkey Jokes For Kids
By Peter Crumpton
PeteyRF Creative
2015
Pg. ?:
Why did the turkey cross the road?
It was the.chicken’s day off!
 
Google Books
Best Ever Classroom Jokes:
Because some of us never grow up
By Mike Haskins
New York, NY: Pavilion Books
2015
Pg. ?:
Why did the turkey cross the road?
He wanted to prove he wasn’t chicken.