Broad Breasted White Turkey

[kimehag]

oh I've just taken on a white turkey an guess it is a bbw i now know why is sooooo huge i just thought someone had fattened it up for xmas..

 

[Calen]

Hi! I just wanted to make the comment that I bought two Broad Breasted Bronze one year. It turned out to be a male and a female. The male had a leg deformity, and he soon died. The next year, I wanted a companion for the female so I went out to try to find a store that had the turkeys sexed. I did fine one, but I ended up buying one female and two males. I was actually purchasing one male and the store owner gave me another because he said that one was not looking very healthy. Both males survived until they became full-sized where one died. My first female died at about 2. The second female also died at about 2. The last male would be 4 this year, but I don't think he is going to make it. He is not able to get up at this time. It just happened two days ago. I really like him. I keep him caged because I have a horse that likes to play, and since he is so fat and slow, I am afraid the horse will accidentally hurt him. I go out and open the cage, and he follows me around the yard. I hate this, but they are not bred to live long, as everyone has said. Next time I get a turkey, I will get a different breed. I really liked the turkeys. I think they are fun. I did get him to live until 4. I tried very hard to adjust his diet by using lots of fresh fruits and vegetables along with alfalfa pellets. I read that using alfalfa pellets is one way to keep their weight down. He hated them. Maybe that is how they keep their weight down because they don't eat. Anyway, I stopped giving them to him. Maybe the short amount of time that I mixed them in with his food helped his longevity.

 

[Celie]

4 years is a very long time for a BB turkey to live, so you should do terrific with a heritage breed! Good luck and BTW everyone who raises turkeys, gets hooked on them. They are soooo personable!

 

[TMANOR]

I have one that is six months old. She is friend. Not food. I would also like to know how this story ended.