BB White Turkeys

[CherryChick]

This March my boyfriend brought me home 3 lil babies. Which we have named Petunia and Adalin ( hens) and Butterball (tom) We were only planning on butchering one of them this fall. But I'm curious....all three of our turkeys are broad breast and there feet are huge and look almost swollen with size. We checked them out and nothing seems to be wrong with them. Will this breed have problems if we don't slaughter them soon?
They are 4 1/2 months old, this is the first time that we have ever raised turkeys.
I didn't know if this is the "broiler x jumbo of chickens" but it turkey size.
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks

 

[Oregon Blues]

If they are the broad breasted whites, they are intended to be butchered. They will get enormous. If you want to keep them and breed them, you will have to learn how to do artificial insemination. Their legs might possibly break down under their own weight. They are not quite as tricky to keep around as the Cornish Cross chickens, but they really are not intended to be anything but the centerpiece for your table.

If you like turkeys and want to raise turkeys, buy some breeding stock of any of the heritage varieties.

 

[CherryChick]

thank you for the reply.
I have one more question. How old do BB white turkeys have to be to butcher?
I have really grown attach to one of the hens. If I'm sitting in the backyard she will waddle on over and sit right next to me hoping that I will give her a treat. It will be hard to let her go, but I dont want her to be uncomfortable living especially if she is going to get bigger.

 

[chicken pickin]

Process time for BBWs I believe is roughly 20-24 weeks of age. We have 2 BBWs they are 9-10 weeks old and we plan to process around that time frame. So 4 1/2 months seems as though it is probably almost time