Difference between White Holland and BBW

[oldmossinger]

I realize that the WH is a heritage breed and the BBW are the cornishX of the turkey world. I would like to know what other distinguishing characteristics one could use to tell them apart, eye color maybe? We had the BBW last year and the batch that we got this year aren't "performing" at the same rate as last year. We got them a month earlier than last year and they are smaller than last years batch after the same amount of time. They have been fed the same things and have a slightly larger run than last year. Could the hatchery / feed store got the "wrong" ones?

Thanks

 

[Lagerdogger]

Mistakes do happen. I have a royal palm that is really a midget white.

 

[turkaholic]

If they are the birds in your other post, they look like BBW's to me. Those legs look THICK. I don't think they are WH and it may be they come from a different source than last years. Feed stores don't always use the same hatchery, many times going with the cheapest birds. Is your feed protein level the same as last year?

 

[oldmossinger]

Exact same feed as last years birds, only differences in feeding, less green beans (not on sale and none in garden) and more grass(in a larger run)

 

[turkaholic]

Could very well be the larger run. They are getting more exercise than last years birds!

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

Quote:
The Broad Breasted isn't in the APA standard so there no set characteristics for them. It's like the Midget White and Beltsville Small White, the BSW's are in the standard the Midgets not. The biggest differences between a BBW and a WH are

Body shape - A BBW is more round
Weight- A BBW can double a WH
Legs - BBW's have shorter legs

The original WH had blue eyes, when they were admitted in the APA standard that was changed to brown eyes for some reason? We have pics of White Hollands on our website if you want to compare.

Steve

 

[oldmossinger]

Well, after looking at several pictures (Thanks Steve for your great pics!) and seeing that the WH have pinkish legs in all of them, it seems that we have what we ordered, BBW. I was kinda hoping they had made a mistake so I could keep a pair for next year's startup.

Appreciate all your help



(Steve, too early to place an order for next year? )

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

We haven't even started to get set up for next years orders yet. lol We will have a small number of eggs in the fall once the weather breaks but since you are in NE you probably don't want to mess with brooding poults over the winter. We usually don't start taking orders until after the holidays.

Steve