A century of Turkey talk 2000-2100.

[Pyxis]

Hi everyone! Ravyn recommended me to this thread to ask a couple questions.

I've been looking into getting turkeys again. Midget whites are what I really want, but I'm having an awful time finding them. I do however have a lead on some Beltsville Whites and they seem fairly similar. Does anyone have experience with them? I'm looking mostly to have them as pets, maybe raise up one for Thanksgiving each year.

 

[memphis]

I don't have any experience with either. Good luck finding them.

 

[memphis]

We got the nicest slow rain! Just what my plants needed! Now someone explain this to me....my turkeys LOVE playing in the hose & sprinklers. But seek cover when it rains. What the heck??

 

[Bantambird]

Hi everyone! Ravyn recommended me to this thread to ask a couple questions.

I've been looking into getting turkeys again. Midget whites are what I really want, but I'm having an awful time finding them. I do however have a lead on some Beltsville Whites and they seem fairly similar. Does anyone have experience with them? I'm looking mostly to have them as pets, maybe raise up one for Thanksgiving each year.

I think there's one guy on the thread with a midget white project. If he comes on, perhaps he will say. Isn't it jrnash?

 

[duluthralphie]

Hi everyone! Ravyn recommended me to this thread to ask a couple questions.

I've been looking into getting turkeys again. Midget whites are what I really want, but I'm having an awful time finding them. I do however have a lead on some Beltsville Whites and they seem fairly similar. Does anyone have experience with them? I'm looking mostly to have them as pets, maybe raise up one for Thanksgiving each year.

Good luck finding actual "Midget Whites"

As far as I know they do not exist anymore. They died out a few years ago or were allowed to breed into other breeds. If you can find the history of them online it is interesting, even their demise is a semi-mystery.

JR was trying to make some. I know I have heard of people claiming to have them but they actaully have crosses of Beltsvilles, New Holland whites or RP's in some combination.

Read this on Wiki..

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midget_White_turkey

Some people "wonder" about these "found" midget whites. I am one.

 

[Pyxis]

Good luck finding actual "Midget Whites"

As far as I know they do not exist anymore. They died out a few years ago or were allowed to breed into other breeds. If you can find the history of them online it is interesting, even their demise is a semi-mystery.

JR was trying to make some. I know I have heard of people claiming to have them but they actaully have crosses of Beltsvilles, New Holland whites or RP's in some combination.

Read this on Wiki..

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midget_White_turkey

Some people "wonder" about these "found" midget whites. I am one.

Well, that would certainly explain why I can't find them! So maybe I will just go with the Beltsvilles.

 

[Bantambird]

Well, that would certainly explain why I can't find them! So maybe I will just go with the Beltsvilles.

In the 1990s before the livestock breeds conservancy picked up on the dire heritage turkey situation, breeding flocks of turkeys reached critically low numbers and by the time they were promoted, many heritage turkey breeds submitted to extinction.

 

[CherMoz]

Try this place for Midget Whites.
https://www.sandhillpreservation.com/catalog/turkeys.html

 

[Pyxis]

Try this place for Midget Whites.
https://www.sandhillpreservation.com/catalog/turkeys.html

I had a semi negative experience with them this year, so I probably won't order from them again. Plus, I really wouldn't want to order an assortment and just hope they sent the midget whites.

Thanks for the suggestion though!

 

[duluthralphie]

Try this place for Midget Whites.
https://www.sandhillpreservation.com/catalog/turkeys.html

I have heard the "midget whites" are close but not the real "midget whites"..However, that is not a big deal as with sop's we deal with a bird that looks like and conforms too and "purebred" does not really count. We do not have pedigrees.

If I wanted midget whites I would start with beltsvilles and RP's. by selective breeding you could get to them in 10-15 generations is my bet.


Also they would be a place to start to get a jump on the number of generations needed. One of the things I like about the RP is there small size. The last time I processed a turkey (RP) and a Chicken (toad) together the RP dressed at 12 pounds the Chicken at over 15.