Broad Breasted Bronze

[Andrew Wolfgang]

Is it true that the broad breasted bronze turkeys cannot breed? Just got ready to send in for a few and recently read that they cannot breed naturally.

 

[firestomp]

Is it true that the broad breasted bronze turkeys cannot breed? Just got ready to send in for a few and recently read that they cannot breed naturally.

yes, they are to large and are artificially inseminated I have read. These are fast growing man made (broad breasted anything) for meat. These birds get huge (buddy had one dressed out 50 lbs. was bought as a pet but) and are prone to leg problems, broken legs and heart failure. So I have read. If you want turkeys to keep around the house, use the heritage breeds, They can be purchased easily, but I have found 15 to be a minimum. So, no turkeys for me. Most all feed stores sell broad breasted birds, great and fast growing meat birds, but you will be heart broke if you want to make a pet out of it.

 

[Andrew Wolfgang]

Well luckily I wasn't going to make them pets. But I did want good meat birds that I could breed. Thank you for the reply

 

[firestomp]

Well luckily I wasn't going to make them pets. But I did want good meat birds that I could breed. Thank you for the reply

there are some very nice heritage breeds, I wanted a couple just to have. Look at Stromberg's Hatchery, I have used them a lot, and they are are a very old and reputable company. Any issues with infertile eggs call them. They also deal in live birds of anything you could want.

 

[R2elk]

Is it true that the broad breasted bronze turkeys cannot breed? Just got ready to send in for a few and recently read that they cannot breed naturally.

Broad breasted turkeys whether Bronze or White are raised commercially by the use of artificial insemination. AI is used because it is the best method of producing fertile eggs. Broad breasted turkeys are capable of naturally reproducing but it is typically only yearling turkeys that are capable of successfully breeding. There is often severe damage to the hens from the natural breeding attempts. As they get older and bigger, successful breedings greatly decrease and injuries increase including fatal injuries.

The hens are not very good at hatching their own eggs because of their weight and their inability to move their feet and legs delicately.

If you want to raise naturally reproducing turkeys, stick to the Heritage breeds.

 

[firestomp]

Broad breasted turkeys whether Bronze or White are raised commercially by the use of artificial insemination. AI is used because it is the best method of producing fertile eggs. Broad breasted turkeys are capable of naturally reproducing but it is typically only yearling turkeys that are capable of successfully breeding. There is often severe damage to the hens from the natural breeding attempts. As they get older and bigger, successful breedings greatly decrease and injuries increase including fatal injuries.

The hens are not very good at hatching their own eggs because of their weight and their inability to move their feet and legs delicately.

If you want to raise naturally reproducing turkeys, stick to the Heritage breeds.

thanks for all the facts.