Feed store bronze reproducing???

[Damummis]

Is it true that a pair of bronze turkeys from the feed store will not reproduce without the help an outside source?

Can that kind of info really be bred out of them? How? Could someone please explain this. Doesn't "nature" just take over??

 

[NYREDS]

The problem is size. The males just get too big to mate naturally. As far as I know AI is the only way to reproduce them.

 

[Paegglvr]

Ever watch that tv show dirty jobs? They did an episode on AI in a turkey farm... just watch that and you'll be a pro!

 

[Damummis]

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EWWW!!!! Being a turkey jerk is NOT my calling.

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

It depends on if they are Broad Breasted Bronze or heritage Bronze aka Standard Bronze. The BB's have been known to mate and reproduce but often the hen is injured during the process, the short stubby legs, big breast makes it hard for the tom to mount the hen and the weight of the tom can break the hens wings.

Heritage turkeys can all self reproduce.

If you really want to try to reproduce BB type turkeys you would need to reverse engineer the breeding methods used to develop them, only breed the smallest in weight, smallest in breast size, longest legs toms with a slimmer/ trimmer hen. It would take some doing but could be done.

When you think about it really it's sad they way poultry has been bred over time for fast weight gain and the food market or the way show breeders have bred some breeds to the point of needing A/I to survive. Kind of a scary thought to me.

Steve in NC

 

[Poupoulles]

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I thought that episode was appalling... Absolutely appalling...

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

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I thought that episode was appalling... Absolutely appalling...

You should see it in "real time", there are quite a few turkey houses in eastern NC.

One really funny or interesting thing is we have one person that comes every 2nd week of Nov. for a live turkey. He makes his living as a turkey grower and has quite a few turkey houses, when I asked him why he buys a turkey when he can have turkey whenever he wants, he said "I grow the *&^&%$ thangs, I don't eat them, I want a real turkey" nuff said for me.

Steve in NC

 

[Damummis]

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Thanks for the info.

This is my first time with turkeys. Impulse buy at the feed store. However, these turkeys are COOL. I like their personalities. I am actually contemplating raising turkeys next year instead of meat birds. Meat birds just plop and eat. The turkeys follow, chat, and are just neat to watch. Why not enjoy raising your food, huh.

 

[HappyHatch'en]

I agree....I have 13 chickens and 8 Bronze turkeys... and majority of the chickens should end up as chicken soup and keep a few for egg laying...the turkey is a complete different personality, next year I will have more turkeys....Black Wing or Golden Harvest from Porter perhaps.....

 

[Paegglvr]

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Not to mention how much food the BBB's eat! I bought 6 this year for the first time b/c that's the only bread my local feed mill had for sale... I now think it's a conspiracy b/c I have to keep making runs to the feed store to buy more feed! This is going to be an expensive thanksgiving dinner.

You have to ask yourself... can you really afford to breed these things even if they would breed on their own!!! The feed bill is out of control!