Breeding mixed rare breeds?

[hollyandty]

OK so I bought some one-year-old turkeys.

They were bought last year as the Rare Turkeys Assortment - 4 breeds. There is a Black Spanish tom, 2 Chocolate hens, 2 Wild hens, and 2 Narragansett hens. They are reportedly breeding and laying. Do I really want to mix the breeds? What will I get for crosses? If I find matches for them will they take a new tom? I would truly only be interested in the eggs for eating and the birds for the table. If I could breed pure then maybe...............................................

 

[Struttn1]

I would let them breed since you have all hens except for one tom. The Black Spanish, Nargs and Chocolates are actually produced from cross breeding. Contact portersturkeys.com and they can tell you what to expect from each of these hens you breed to your tom. I think seeing what you come up with would be a hoot. Kind of like opening Christmas presents.

 

[turkey guru]

all heritage turkeys are crosses of the wild turkeys , some are color true, porters turkey are just colors not breeds, if they where breeds they would be color true, they are not! he has true breeds but most are just colors( there poults look like a mix and get many colors) If you have a blue slate and breed it, the poult will be blue, if not the slate is not a pruebreed just a color! porters will tell ya if they breed true or not most don't, look at the list ( only 8 breed true color) all the rest are colors!!

 

[MagsC]

Actually the hybrids might be hardier but if you are having them lay eggs for eating and butchering, I dont think the mixing of eggs would really matter?

 

[KOTurkeyRanch]

Quote:
He can get most to breed true it just takes years