Best Breed for me?

[Sylverfly]

So we have a few "farm" animals already and are trying to get a hobby/some what self sufficient farm up and running, won't be growing hay, field corn, or grains but I hope to try and trade goods with some of the farms around that do in the future. We have chickens, ducks, geese, and rabbits right now next spring we are hoping to get some goats and maybe some sheep and pigs. But I will be buying some turkeys next year for sure. I want a breed that I can grow out in a season, with good meat qualities and taste. I'm really looking for an economical eater, I know that's relevant when talking turkeys or heritage turkeys in particular. A good forager, and here's the real biggie I want a turkey that can breed naturally, incubate and mother offspring successfully. I was leaning toward Midget whites or bourbon reds. But I'm open to experienced suggestions, what kind of turkey do you guys think fits my needs?

Also I live in northern Michigan where we are famous for our seemingly never ending harsh bitter wind whipping snowy winters and our scorching unbearably hot summers, with what seems like a week of in between in the fall and long cold wet springs that are commonly reclaimed on multiple occasions by the snows of winter before summer finally arrives. Why do I live here? it should be one of the worlds greatest unsolved mysteries, why does any one live here? no one from northern Michigan can ever answer you...Don't ever believe them when they say they like the seasons...that's why vacations were invented. lol.

 

[brahmabreeder]

Narragansett turkeys make good moms. Mine raised a baby last year. This year both of my hens hatched chicken eggs. They breed naturally. Not sure how good they are for eating though. Good luck finding a turkey.

 

[Sylverfly]

Narragansett turkey are such a beautiful turkey. Maybe too pretty to eat, I'd end up sitting there and watching them walk around the yard being turkeys, then they'd be really uneconomical to feed because I'd end up with a few hundred because they'd keep raising babies.

 

[myfinefeatheredfriends]

I really like Sweetgrass turkeys, though they are pretty hard to find. They grow to be about 35-40 pounds for toms. We raise them here in Ohio, not that far south from Michigan, and they handle the seasons just fine. They mate naturally, though they are semi-broad breasted and many of our customers have said they are one of the best tasting turkeys they've had. They also are the best foragers of all of our turkeys, hardly ever eating any grain because they are pasture raised. I think Midgets are too small for meat because hens barely grow larger than the biggest chicken. Here's a link that tells a little about Sweetgrass turkeys, if you're interested:
http://www.porterturkeys.com/sweetgrass.htm

 

[frank53061]

The sweetgrass Turkeys are a good looking Turkey and I have seen others say they are hard to find and also being true sweetgrass how are they as far as taste.

I have Red Bourbons and have seen studies saying they are near the top as far as tasteing the best I guess I will find out when my are old enough to butcher.
I may try my hand at Narragansett turkeys as well I like the look of them and what I have heard about them.

What breeds are combined to have a Sweetgrass Turkey?.