Can i breed a white broad-breasted hen with heritage breed gobbler?

[chickenboy1]

Hi i have 8 turkeys right now 3 naggarasents (1 is a gobbler) , 4 wild turkey hens , and a Bourben Red gobbler Iam getting 3-4 white broad breasted hens and i know that they can not breed on there own but is it possible that my gobblers could breed them and why cant they breed naturally is it the hens fault or gobblers? Thanks

 

[Nathan Sampson]

I am thinking it is the gobblers fault that they can not bread because of the breast he can not get the deed done. I may be mistaken but that is my assumption.

 

[iron chicken]

I am thinking it is the gobblers fault that they can not bread because of the breast he can not get the deed done. I may be mistaken but that is my assumption.

It is because of the males breast, so the hens should be able to breed with other breeds of males.

 

[chickenboy1]

ok thats what i thought thanks for the replies!

 

[Marty1876]

I'd say if they have plenty of excercise, to help them stay a bit fitter, and your other males are lighter breeds (which enable the deed to take place) you should be good. Its the excessive size breed into those lunker males that keeps them too far from the target.

 

[Celie]

I agree with the others. I have raised BBW and they grow very fast and very large. I did restrict their food after I lost several to eart and leg troube which is revilent fo that breed, and just at maturity, managed o get a dozen or so fertile eggs, that hatched. Some were BB and soe were not and one had a sunken chest! I now raise the Holland whites that the BBW's were bred from in 1935. If your other turkey toms are large enough breed birds (which they proably are) to reach the spot(so to say) then they should be able to mate. Eventually the BBW hens might grow too big for the tom's, but until they do, why not? Eventually the BBW Toms will get to be about 75 to 80 pounds and the hens about 55 to 60# year or so old. Just remember, BB turkey are like the cornish cross chickens, they have to have their food restricted, or they can surcome to leg problems oreat attacks, because if left to eat all they want, all the time, they will grow too fast for their bones. Hope this helps.