A century of Turkey talk 2000-2100.

[Molpet]

why is there a white turd out in front?

Probably the neighbors

 

[R2elk]

why is there a white turd out in front?

Because she is the lead hen even though she is a domestic turkey. Looks like a Narragansett to me.

 

[R2elk]

Probably the neighbors

Based on behavior she seems to be a feral bird

 

[fat brown hen]

Based on behavior she seems to be a feral bird

My theory was that heritage turkeys are all genetically the same size; the only variations being a result of nutrition/disease/parasites. So I'm curious: Is she the same size as the others, and just as capable of flight?

 

[Bantambird]

My theory was that heritage turkeys are all genetically the same size; the only variations being a result of nutrition/disease/parasites. So I'm curious: Is she the same size as the others, and just as capable of flight?

heritage and wild turkeys are the same species, only difference is domestication. All the heritage colors sometimes even pop up naturally in wild flocks, but often the wilds will mate with the heritage flocks and intermingle genetics. It is probably not a terrible idea, on their part, for diversity, however the fun colors do end up standing out.

 

[R2elk]

My theory was that heritage turkeys are all genetically the same size; the only variations being a result of nutrition/disease/parasites. So I'm curious: Is she the same size as the others, and just as capable of flight?

All heritage turkeys are not genetically the same size. Royal Palms in particular are smaller genetically than most other heritage turkeys.

This particular hen flies very well which is also the case with most heritage hens. Most heritage turkeys don't fly a lot due to the circumstances they are kept in.

 

[Bantambird]

Heck, I had a dog spook the turkeys a few years ago before I had the big guardians. The hens flew a quarter of a mile away to the far hay field. It was lucky they flew that way and not towards the houses east of me. Heritage hens fly pretty darned well. The toms? not so much..

 

[R2elk]

Heck, I had a dog spook the turkeys a few years ago before I had the big guardians. The hens flew a quarter of a mile away to the far hay field. It was lucky they flew that way and not towards the houses east of me. Heritage hens fly pretty darned well. The toms? not so much..

The toms can fly better than a person thinks but for the most part, once they start strutting, they forget that they can fly.

 

[Molpet]

My theory was that heritage turkeys are all genetically the same size; the only variations being a result of nutrition/disease/parasites. So I'm curious: Is she the same size as the others, and just as capable of flight?

I had a hen that would nest across the road. I seen her fly back home, about 600ft.

 

[R2elk]