At What Age Do Bourbon Red Turkeys Get To 33lbs? (New To Raising Turkeys)

[MysteryChicken]

Perhaps @R2elk will add his experiences.

Okay.

 

[R2elk]

I ordered some Bourbon Reds hatching eggs today, and would like to know at what age the turkeys get to reach 33 pounds at slaughter? Would be helpful to know.

You do realize that the posted 33 lbs. is live weight and is not processed weight? An adult Bourbon Red tom will dress about 22 to 24 lbs.

 

[R2elk]

I was mainly talking about the toms. How much would they weigh at 6 months? (28wks)

At 6 months old Bourbon Red toms should be around 14 to 15 lbs. processed weight.

 

[MysteryChicken]

You do realize that the posted 33 lbs. is live weight and is not processed weight? An adult Bourbon Red tom will dress about 22 to 24 lbs.

Yes, reason why I said at slaughter, not processed. At time of killing.

 

[R2elk]

Okay, but the Broad Breasted varieties were a bit too pricey right now. Will a boosted protein diet hurt a heritage breed, or just the Broad Breasted ones?

Broad Breasted turkeys especially the white ones are by far cheaper to purchase as day old poults than any of the heritage varieties.

Proper feed will not hurt any variety of turkey whether broad breasted or heritage. The great amount of leg problems with broad breasted varieties is because of being given improper feed to slow their growth. The low protein feeds lack the necessary lysine, methionine and niacin levels that they need for proper development.

You can speed up growth in heritage turkeys by keeping them on a high protein feed and supplementing it with a high fat feed such as corn.

I have processed properly raised Bourbon Red toms at 2 years old with a dressed weight of 24 lbs. I have processed properly raise BBWs at 6 months with a dressed weight of 34 1/2 lbs.

 

[MysteryChicken]

Broad Breasted turkeys especially the white ones are by far cheaper to purchase as day old poults than any of the heritage varieties.

Proper feed will not hurt any variety of turkey whether broad breasted or heritage. The great amount of leg problems with broad breasted varieties is because of being given improper feed to slow their growth. The low protein feeds lack the necessary lysine, methionine and niacin levels that they need for proper development.

You can speed up growth in heritage turkeys by keeping them on a high protein feed and supplementing it with a high fat feed such as corn.

I have processed properly raised Bourbon Red toms at 2 years old with a dressed weight of 24 lbs. I have processed properly raise BBWs at 6 months with a dressed weight of 34 1/2 lbs.

24lbs sounds good for a Bourbon Red. Were they tough at that age?

 

[R2elk]

24lbs sounds good for a Bourbon Red. Were they tough at that age?

No. It is a matter of properly aging the carcass and properly cooking it. A full grown tom does not do much all day other than strutting around.

 

[MysteryChicken]

No. It is a matter of properly aging the carcass and properly cooking it. A full grown tom does not do much all day other than strutting around.

Okay. I was originally going to get some broad breasted bronze, hatching eggs, but it was $80.00 for 15 eggs.

 

[R2elk]

Okay. I was originally going to get some broad breasted bronze, hatching eggs, but it was $80.00 for 6 eggs.

Eighty dollars for 6 eggs that probably won't hatch because of harsh shipping conditions is a rip off. Stromberg's charges $80 but it is for 15 eggs and in my opinion that is too much.

I personally prefer white turkeys for meat as they present a much cleaner and more pleasing carcass after processing.

Valley of the Moon Turkeys sells sexed day old BBW poults for $3.75 each with a minimum order of 20 poults plus shipping. Depending on your location, shipping may be as low as $20 (eastern U.S.) or as high as $72 (western U.S.). I really like the idea of being able to order sexed poults so that I could only raise toms for food.

They sell hatching eggs too but their minimum for hatching eggs is 200.

If I was going to buy BBWs, I would either try to get someone to go in with me on the order or I would just order the minimum and put the surplus up for sale as soon as they arrived. I have done this in the past with heritage turkeys and had no problem selling the extras.

The best option is to check with your local feed stores to see what they will have available or if they will order a small quantity for you. You will pay a higher per poult cost but will be able to normally get as few as you want.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Cackle hatchery sells broad breasted poults for 6-7 dollars each. I would get poults too. Eggs are a big gamble with no guarantee.