Wild breed Identification-Merriam's?

[GJRacingGirl726]

Hello! Im hoping for some help identifying the turkeys that I have. The fellow I got them from as poults last year said they were Merriam's and I was pretty sure he said he got his flock from a reputable Merriam stock. However, all the research I'm doing right now says that true/pure Merriam's are pretty rare to find. I found a thread here that briefly compared Merriam's, Rio Grande's, Eastern and Osceola's but I figured photo identification from some folks who know more about it would be the best place to start. I have 4 Jenny's and 2 Jakes. It's been a wet few weeks, so ignore the mud.

 

[Huntmaster]

Merriam's should have a white lower back to tail feathers and tail tips. Can't really tell from pics but kind of look more buff/cream could just be from being muddy. But do see a hen in 2nd pic facing away that may look white?

 

[GJRacingGirl726]

Ill see if I have any better pics. Tomorrow is supposed to be rainy/muddy again, but I should be able to take more photos later in the week. If they are buff/cream, what breed would these guys be?

 

[R2elk]

Ill see if I have any better pics. Tomorrow is supposed to be rainy/muddy again, but I should be able to take more photos later in the week. If they are buff/cream, what breed would these guys be?

The breed is Turkey. What you are seeking is what variety they are.

 

[GJRacingGirl726]

The breed is Turkey. What you are seeking is what variety they are.

So when someone says "heritage breeds" is that incorrect? I saw your profile says you are in Natrona County! I was born and raised in Casper. I moved to Arizona 2 years ago to escape the snow.

Also, what variety would they be?

 

[R2elk]

So when someone says "heritage breeds" is that incorrect? I saw your profile says you are in Natrona County! I was born and raised in Casper. I moved to Arizona 2 years ago to escape the snow.

Also, what variety would they be?

When someone asks about turkey heritage breeds they should be asking about heritage varieties since they are all the same breed. The only one that is a different breed is the Ocellated turkey.

There is plenty of snow here right now.

I have not studied the wild varieties and cannot answer which variety yours are.

 

[GJRacingGirl726]

Here are some more photos i took today.

 

[GJRacingGirl726]

When someone asks about turkey heritage breeds they should be asking about heritage varieties since they are all the same breed. The only one that is a different breed is the Ocellated turkey.

There is plenty of snow here right now.

I have not studied the wild varieties and cannot answer which variety yours are.

I heard it's been a snowy winter so far. Ours has been more wet than last year for sure.

Okay, well, I've deduced that I've got 6.....variety turkeys. Lol. I Also have a pair of Black Spanish, a trio of Blue Slates, and a few extra random jakes and 2 BBW females. Hopefully someone who studies wild varieties can help me figure out what these ones are before they start laying. I don't want to mislead someone if they aren't in fact what I purchased them as. I just wanted some poults at the time. I think turkeys are some of the sweetest birds.

 

[I Like Turkeys]

This is what i've found from google-

I have not studied wild turkeys either, so cannot give you much besides these photos.

 

[GJRacingGirl726]

It was mass pandemonium by the turkeys today when I tried to take pictures. All 6 (wild) turkeys came out of their run, then the two guinea who live over there kept chasing them and scattering them. Then the goats kept going into their run to eat the feed. I was waving my arms and yelling like a mad woman. Anyway, I couldn't get the jakes to puff up at me. One little lady kept trying to scuffle with the Blue Slates, so I have some photos of her puffed. Also, the females have white (or buff?) tipped chest feathers. The jakes are missing a bunch of their lower back feathers so Im not confident what color the tips are, but the base color of the feather is black, not white, if that makes a difference in Merriam vs Rio? I can also take videos of them gobbling if that is a way to identify them?