Heritage & Exhibition Turkey Thread

HallFamilyFarm

APA ETL#195
14 Years
Jan 25, 2010
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Monticello, Arkansas
This thread is a place for BYC folks to ask questions and get answers about the American Standard of Perfection Heritage Turkey.

At the 2010 American Poultry Association National Poultry Show in Shawnee, Oklahoma, there were over 4500 birds shown. Of those 4500 birds, less than 60 were Turkeys. Benjiman Franklin wanted the Turkey to be the National Bird. The Turkey is a majestic and friendly bird that anyone can raise and own. They forage well and take up very little room. Though many "experts" recommend that Turkeys be raised seperate from chickens, many backyard flocks raise Turkeys alongside their flocks of chickens, bantams, ducks and geese.

ETA on 11/5/2011

At Crossroads Joint National poultry Show 10/2011 there were 10,276 entries. There were only 41 Turkeys. 28 in the Open and 13 in the Junior show. Most breeders of turkeys felt it too difficult to transport their turkeys.

The Heritage breeds of Turkeys are in need of conservation and preservation. The Turkey is our only species of backyard poultry that is Native to North America. Please add a few Turkey poults to your spring chick orders and assist us in preserving the Heritage Exhibition Turkey!

What do you need to know and look for in breeding turkeys for show or in breeding?
First, buy a Standard of Perfection (SOP) at http://www.amerpoultryassn.com/APA_ShoppingMall3.htm Then study it!
The book Turkey Management is very helpful. Available at http://www.amazon.com/Turkey-management-Stanley-J-Marsden/dp/B0007HHRPW


Check
out http://exhibitionturkeyfanciers.bravehost.com/index.html to learn more about Exhibition and Heritage Turkeys.

Check out our Breeders Listings at http://exhibitionturkeyfanciers.bravehost.com/directory.html

What is a Heritage Turkey?

See the Heritage Turkey poster at http://heritageturkeyfoundation.org . Prized for their rich flavor and beautiful plumage, Heritage Turkeys are the ancestors of the common Broad-breasted White industrial breed of turkey that comprises 99.99% of the supermarket turkeys sold today. But the Heritage Breeds still exist and are making a comeback. Most breeds of heritage turkey were developed in the United States and Europe over hundreds of years, and were identified in the American Poultry Association's turkey Standard of Perfection of 1874. These breeds include the Standard Bronze, Bourbon Red, Narragansett, Jersey Buff, Slate, Black Spanish, and White Holland. Later added to the standard were the Royal Palm, White Midget and Beltsville Small White.

Large corporations have dominated turkey production and breeding since the 1960's, choosing the Broad Breasted Whites because of high breast meat production in a short period. But Heritage Breeds have been quietly gaining a renewed market and respect due to their flavor and superior biological diversity.

Exhibition Turkey Fanciers

Established in 2010 to promote the Native American Exhibition Turkey.

Exhibition Turkey Fanciers was formed in the summer of 2010 to promote this deserving and under-represented species of poultry by encouraging communication, fellowship, exhibition, and sharing of stock by creating a Turkey Breeders Directory.

As we grow the benefits of membership will include regular newsletters, eligibility for show awards sponsored by E.T.F. and its members, and much more. At present we will make this yahoo group our home, with membership free to all.

The American Poultry Association currently recognizes the following varieties of Turkeys: Black, Bourbon Red, Slate, Narragansett,
White Holland, Bronze, Beltsville White, Royal Palm. Other varieties may be shown in exhibition, but can only win AOV: "All Other Variety" if a quality standard recognized variety is present.

Jim A. Hall
Secretary
Exhibition Turkey Fanciers

http://exhibitionturkeyfanciers.bravehost.com

Here is a must read for any Turkey breeder, owner or fancier!

Book Title:

Turkey Management

Authors :

Marsden, Stanley J., 1897-
Martin, Joseph Holmes, 1895-

Publication Info:

Ithaca, New York: Cornell University, Mann Library

Print source:

Danville, Ill.: The Interstate, c1939.

Subject terms: Turkeys

URL:

http://chla.library.cornell.edu/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=chla;idno=3317008

http://chla.library.cornell.edu/cgi...Management;idno=3317008;view=toc;frm=frameset



Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Storey’s Guide to Raising Turkeys, 2nd Edition

http://storey.com/book_detail.php?isbn=9781580172615&cat=Animals&subcat=Livestock&p=20

Breeds, Care, Health

Storey’s Guide to Raising Turkeys covers everything you need to know to raise turkeys successfully, including breed selection, housing, space requirements, breeding and birthing techniques, feeding and nutrition, behavior, and health care.

$ 18.95 US


Paper
Pages: 208
Size: 6 x 9
Color: Photographs and illustrations throughout
ISBN: 978-1-58017-261-5​
 
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Sources for Heritage Turkey Poults:

Exhibition Turkey Hatchery List: Updated 2012 Price Lists
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=437644

Porter's Rare Heritage Turkeys
http://www.porterturkeys.com

Ideal Poultry Breeding Farms
https://secuservices.com/ideal/newideal/Products.aspx?Category=Turkeys

Murray McMurray Hatchery
http://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/turkeys.html

Randall Burkey Company
http://www.randallburkey.com/Turkey-Poults/products/445/

Or search the auction section of BYC and you may find a fellow BYCer that is selling their extra poults, hatching eggs or birds.

Turkey Color Genetics Lessons
 
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Personally I would look into Frank Reese Jr., Danny Williamson or Duane Urch / Tim Turnland for breeder stock. I believe they are all master breeders of one breed or another of turkeys. Frank is the only certified turkey only judge in the country, he is also on the Heritage breed committee for the APA. They all have excellent stock. They are all active in the APA, SPPA and ALBC.

Good luck
Charlie
 
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Quote:
I met Danny Williamson at Shawnee. Real nice fellow. Frank Reese and Urch/Turnland also have excellent stock. The ones I posted above are a bit lower priced and a place for backyard breeders to start with. If one can afford to buy from them, they should.
 
How much does Frank Reese Jr sell his turkeys for? Does he ship? I was told he did not sell them to the public.
 
The Buff Turkey was taken out of the SOP in 1915. A friend passed this link on to me for the 1910 SOP.

http://www.archive.org/stream/americanstandard00ameriala#page/292/mode/2up

Here is a copy of the Buff Turkey page:

47716_sop_1910_buff_turkey.jpg
 
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If you want some from http://www.porterturkeys.com/regalred.htm you may want to order soon. They are booking fast.

i love looking at his website and
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lol... ive been sick lately and so im broke broke broke... Tom Walker(sp?) has them 2... i may end up ordering them next year for 2012 delivery...

Here is a thought. Check with Kevin and see if you can get just 5 Regal Reds and add them to my poult order. The shipping would be almost nothing and we can bring them to a meetup. They are currently $12.99 each with a limit of 6.
 

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