Broad B Bronze turkeys... your experiences?

[dangerouschicken]

I would think it might be better to find blue slate males for your females as far as breeding goes. The BBB are usually meat turkeys, have similar problem to meat chickens, and you may see those issues within a year of having them. Their offspring may not be of best quality, because of that.

 

[Mrs MIA]

:| Ours never live long enough to reproduce. I'd like to eventually get some of the smaller heritage breeds to keep for eggs/chicks.

 

[goldensunriseranch]

Hey Bill, When your girls are old enough and start laying you can always bring them by for a mating to my blue slate tom. And then hatch out a baby tom for yourself. My tom is still young yet, but should be ready about the same time as your girls. I'll have a black spanish tom ready by then too. Those BB boys are going to get BIG fast. Their faster growth rates are going to make them ready for the hens before your girls are ready and most likely those slate hens won't handle their weight at all. I wouldn't risk a crippled hen. I didn't have the time to properly butcher my BB bronze's when I had them so Gary took them to an area near here where they stock it with game for hunters. If you don't mind them getting hunted for a turkey dinner I can have Gary ask his friend about that.

 

[goldensunriseranch]

Or I might even have an extra black spanish tom, not 100% positive yet though...

 

[Willjg]

Thanks everyone so much!

Michelle, I just may take you up on one of your offers... have to watch how these guys grow. The bronze babies are the nicest of the bunch tho, I just hope they don't become monsters.

Now I just need to watch myself that I don't become addicted to turkeys like I did chickens lol.

Take Care,
Bill.

 

[Ace_king_brahma]

I had bbb hens that were mated to a rio grand tom and produced some odd colored poults. Though the rio tom would tear the hens sides up from overmating them.

 

[Blisschick]

I had to invest in some turkey saddles just to keep my poor girls from getting shredded. I had never seen anything as horrific happen to a chicken as I have my turkey hens.

 

[goldensunriseranch]

We could try putting socks on the turkey toms!

 

[Willjg]

WOW! OK now I am getting nervous at the idea of the turkeys breeding.... do the hens suffer that bad? Maybe if I have separate pens and only let them interact a little during mating season.... oh boy!