BBW turkey info

[al6517]

BBW Turkeys are the Turkey's version of the Cornish X as you have already figured out, they also cannot breed true as they also are hydrids, and AI still won't help. I have raised and still do raise the BBW and I like them just fine, they grow well, fast and very very big. The lineage is the same as that of the cornish X in that there are 4 different set's of parent stock to which the breeding combination is a closely guarded secret within the industry, the parent stock is also bred in secret and locked up tighter than fort knox. You certainly can try to breed them and may get some success and maybe even make a cross of your own, as this has been done with the Cornish X chicken, h3ll I even did it without a problem. the deal is it takes allot of work, time and dedication, space & numbers all of which most backyard folks are totally incapable of attempting. If you have the resourses and the gut's I say sure go ahead and try, I can attest to the project as I have already been there done that, from experince.

 

[Frosty]

Quote:
Would you be willing to share what you criteria is for selecting breeding stock? I was planning to keep the smaller toms and larger hens for breeding purposes. I have 2 White Holland toms, 2 BBW hens, and 4 White Holland hens to start with. I am planning to keep a line of White Hollands and start a line of WH x BBW then cross the WH back in if the toms from the crosses are getting too big.

eTo Frosty and Colby.... What kind of laying have you seen from the hens? How about hatch a bility of their offspring? What did you cover them with in the past?

I wish I could help you there but I am pretty new at this. I had one BBW hen in with my WH last year but there was no way to tell the eggs apart. In the past I was planning to do AI when I kept a few birds over, but decided that it wasn't something that I could do by myself. At 1 1/2 years old, the tom processed at 36 pounds. Last year I did get one egg to hatch (I am in ND and we had flooding all over up here for most of the spring/summer, a lot of the eggs that I found were in mud or water). I think the egg that hatched was a cross and I was really excited about it but at about 2 months old the poult got caught out in the rain and I lost it. Right now one BBW hen is in with the chickens, due to the lights for the chickens the turkey is laying. I got 3 eggs in 4 days. I think BBW are one that can actually have parthenogenic eggs so I could put them in the incubator to see if anything happens but with daytime temps in the 20s and 30s (actually warm for this time of year) I don't know if they got too cold. And if they did actually hatch, I would have to keep them in the house for about 5 months.​

 

[al6517]

Quote:
Would you be willing to share what you criteria is for selecting breeding stock? I was planning to keep the smaller toms and larger hens for breeding purposes. I have 2 White Holland toms, 2 BBW hens, and 4 White Holland hens to start with. I am planning to keep a line of White Hollands and start a line of WH x BBW then cross the WH back in if the toms from the crosses are getting too big.

eTo Frosty and Colby.... What kind of laying have you seen from the hens? How about hatch a bility of their offspring? What did you cover them with in the past?

I wish I could help you there but I am pretty new at this. I had one BBW hen in with my WH last year but there was no way to tell the eggs apart. In the past I was planning to do AI when I kept a few birds over, but decided that it wasn't something that I could do by myself. At 1 1/2 years old, the tom processed at 36 pounds. Last year I did get one egg to hatch (I am in ND and we had flooding all over up here for most of the spring/summer, a lot of the eggs that I found were in mud or water). I think the egg that hatched was a cross and I was really excited about it but at about 2 months old the poult got caught out in the rain and I lost it. Right now one BBW hen is in with the chickens, due to the lights for the chickens the turkey is laying. I got 3 eggs in 4 days. I think BBW are one that can actually have parthenogenic eggs so I could put them in the incubator to see if anything happens but with daytime temps in the 20s and 30s (actually warm for this time of year) I don't know if they got too cold. And if they did actually hatch, I would have to keep them in the house for about 5 months.​

With that combo I think you would be fine getting some fertile eggs and you have them paired properly but there are a few things to keep in mind when trying to keep these BBW's to fertile and egg laying age. you must keep them on a strict diet from the git go and I mean serious diet, otherwise they can never perform due to their size, they have the same issues as the Cornish X and their lifespans will be shortened also AI on these monters is a bear Believe me I know but it can be done. By crossing the two different breeds and sizes you will have better success at getting offspring closer to what your wanting.

Keeping turkey poults in the house for 5 mo.................. whew you are a better man than me, no way would i even think to keep chickens in the house god forbid, but I think they will be fine outside. Keeping some breeds of turkeys can be a challenge some that I have raised are about as smart as a box of hair, so keeping a sharp eye out is a must LOL. Good luck with the project and let me know your progress.

AL

 

[Frosty]

Quote:
Believe me, I do watch their diet. Especially in the first year when they are in the rapid growth stage. My heaviest tom this year dressed at 20.2 pounds at 6 months old. The hens were in the 15 - 17 pound range I think. My 18 month old hen waddles a bit when she walks but gets around fine (size wise she looks pretty comparable to a WH tom, just a little wider). If predators like fox and coyote aren't hanging around in the summer I often turn the turkeys loose and let them forage most of their diet. Sometimes I just put food out for them once a week to remind them that they live here. I keep a close eye on them to make sure that they aren't getting thin, they just do a nice slow growth. I have been raising BBB type turkeys for about 17 years now, the biggest we ever dressed at 6 months and under was 28 pounds.

I'm not a better man than you, in fact I'm not a man at all

Just ask my husband and kids

It may be possible to AI them but I am not sure that I could do it by myself and would prefer to get a line going that can reproduce naturally. I haven't found much information telling me how to do AI on poultry either. I don't need a huge turkey, but a lot of folks that get their birds from me prefer the BB type. So I'll compromise and see if I can get something that is a happy medium. There is also the possibility of crossing a smaller F1 tom back to a BB hen, too. As far as keeping them outside this time of year? In the Jan/Feb time frame it is not uncommon for our high for the day to be below zero and lows at -20 and colder. I plan to set up a dedicated brooder building, then maybe I'll be able to keep them outside (if the building is insulated and has a heater and a brooder lamp both).

My apologies to cornish20, I didn't mean to hijack your thread. I think al6517 has a lot of great information for us though!

 

[al6517]

You certainly have a good plan down pat and know what is in order to get good results, BTW sorry about the Man comment, just a figure of speach

I know you can handle the AI and I can help teach you how in a PM. The 4 hen groups get's the creeps about real farm type animal husbandry posted openly, I Raise SQ Cornish so I am well versed on this practice or I wouldn't have a flock of them LOL. Shoot me a PM if you would like to learn.

AL