Broad B Bronze turkeys... your experiences?

[Willjg]

Hey there,

Well its look like the turkeys I originally got to sell are settling in and will stay lol.

I was really curious to hear about anyone and everyones experiences with the Broad Breasted Bronze turkeys.... I've read they can't reproduce naturally, but has that been true for anyone keeping them?
I realize exceptions do happen and would just like to know.

Also, can you eat turkey eggs??
Any stories and info will be appreciated.


Take Care,
Bill.

 

[SterlingAcres]

We had Bronze turkeys when I was a kid. I don't know if they can reproduce naturally, we never hatched any eggs of theirs... but our tom would give our hens some 'lovin'. They make good pets, they'll follow you around the yard when you let them out to free range.
As far as I know, you can eat most eggs. People eat ostrich eggs, why not turkey ones?

Good luck!!

 

[silkiechicken]

You can eat turkey eggs no problem. I have two toms and they are wonderful! They follow me around, curious as ever and like to gobble. However, I hear they only live a few years because they are so meaty and heavy. Commercially they use artificial insemination to make more. Mine are destined for dinner.

 

[Willjg]

Wow! Ok cool about the turkey eggs!

Has anyone heard of the BBBronze mating and producing fertile eggs tho?

Somehow I think I will have the rare mutants that do lol.... I've had roosters that I thought were sterile suddenly become breeding machines before...maybe this will happen with the turkeys lol

I was looking up turkey info and saw this site:
http://www.porterturkeys.com/

They have gorgeous breeds! I never knew there were so many.... but I guess when I first started with chickens I said the same thing about them lol.

Thanks!
Bill.

 

[sandspoultry]

It's rare that the broad breasted can mate naturally but I have heard of it happening. If they get to big then they can't and it's the same thing with how long they will live, if they get to heavy the legs can't support them. Turkey eggs are fine for eating and baking, just richer than chicken eggs.

Steve in NC

 

[goldensunriseranch]

Hey Bill!
My BB Bronze Turkey's never bred. They were eating machines, always hungry and eventually their large size made it hard for their legs to support them.

 

[FarmGirl01]

My turkeys got so big they had a hard time walking around. One tom weighed 48 pounds live weight. I have never had a hen that had trouble just the toms. The hens always went for thanksgiving. We just let that tom grow and boy he grew. They are very friendly and mine got along well with the other animals.
Now the heritage turkeys are another story.

 

[Frosty]

Part of the problem is that the size of the breast makes it almost impossible for the tom to get close enough to do the deed. He would also likely do damage to the hen having that much weight climb on her. I have heard of cases of them breeding, but very rarely and I don't know if it has been proven since there have also been cases of 'self fertile hens' (hens that had fertile eggs with no tom around). The eggs need to be incubated because then hens are so heavy that they end up breaking them.

 

[Leslie In North Pole]

I wouldn't recommend letting BBB breed, as I have found the hens can easily get a hip displaced. If you have ever watched them walk around, they are similar to a cornish cross in gait. My amorous blue slate successfully mated our bbb hen last year, we found out when one of the eggs started hatching under one of our ducks in a "community" nest. We later lost her due to hip injury. This year, we separated our bb hens for their protection after he hurt another one with his advances.

 

[Willjg]

Thanks everyone!

I love hearing your input!! And any stories of your birds are great to hear too.

It looks like the 2 bbbronze are males, at least 1 is for sure. I also have 2 blue slates....both seem to be hens.
Do you think a successful mating could happen? I realize the hens would need to be isolated for sitting.... this is all still a long long way off, its just good info to hear.

Bill.