I Like Turkeys
Crowing
I’m a holland white lover as well, and share the opinion that they’re amazing and everyone should love them. I tend not to like solid white birds, but holland whites are some strikingly beautiful turkeys. I haven’t recorded weight/growth rate, so I don’t know how well they hold up in that regard, but they’re such pretty birds. Turkeys, no matter what variety or size they are, sell pretty easy in my area, so I suppose I’m not as worried as others may be about breeding what sells well. The holland whites are easy going, beautiful birds, so I adore them.Thank you for the feedback!
I’m always a little torn about what poults sell locally vs our breeding program goals.
I am of the opinion that everyone should love the Holland Whites as much as I do-
- Super docile, both male and female
- Able to reproduce on their own
- Reach butcher weight at about 5mos, full size by 8-9 mos
- Beautiful on the table
The Bourbon Reds that I’ve had are
- Beautiful,
- Still have white feather shafts, so, still pretty on the table (roasted)
- Take twice as long as the Holland Whites to reach “max” size, and that is an issue IMO
They hit “butcher” weight at the same ~5 mos range, but don’t reach “full” size until about 18 mos (at least the lines we have follow the info I’ve read)
I may also be bias TBH because, while my BR Tom is one of my favorites, his hen (I only have one BR hen for him) she is a spazz and one of my least favorites. She’s not mean, but, is not happy about routine handling for general health/ foot checks/ wing clipping, etc.
.....but everyone seems to want “pretty” turkeys in their yard/ run/ coop.
Even if it isn’t as pretty on the table (like the many varieties that have black feather shafts, and grow much more slowly)
I’m still trying to figure out my local market. But. We also raise them to enjoy them ourselves, primarily, so,
Well
I’m not sure how much I care what the local market “Asks”
I have different goals (type, temperament, growth rate, etc)
A few of mine have blue eyes, but I was lucky enough to get brown eyed hens two months back, so hopefully I can breed away from the blue eyes.
So long as they have shelter from the rain, they stay clean enough in my area.