Flying Broad Breasted Whites

[collaire]

I have one for all you Turkey people. At the end of February this year We received 40 Broad Breasted White Poults from Meyer Hatchery. They are now a little over three months old and, and I don't know what they are, but they are not Broad Breasted Whites. They can fly like eagles, and no BBW tiurkey that I have ever raised in the past could come close to flying. They are now flying up on a 6' high perch to roost at night. We've been in contact with Meyer Hatchery for the past month or so, and they steadfastly insist that they only have BBWs. They are a bit too big to be Midget Whites at three months, which is the only other white turkey Meyer has listed in their catalog. They could be poor example of White Hollands, but Meyer claims they do not have any of these. Has anyone else ever got the wrong breed from a hatchery and what did you do about it? This foul up may cost me a customer, since I raise BBWs for one of our local restaurants, and these were susposed to be processed next month for them. .

 

[ChickenJerk]

Are they hens or toms? Mixed?

 

[collaire]

They were straight run poults. There are probably about 60% jakes.

 

[Celie]

I bought some CornishXrock meat chickens from Meyers last October, that took 4 months to get to processing size, instead of 7 to 8 weeks. They have to be experimenting with their breeds, because, these chickens are very active and fast, but grew very slowly. Now at 8 months, I am thinking of breeding these meaties to see what the next generation will produce. The hatchery might not handle a certain breed, but the source they buy their eggs from might. If the 3 month old poults have short legs, but a lean body, they could be a cross that backfired on them. Do you have any pictures or weights? I have raised BBW's that even though heavy enough to tear down a 6' fence with their weight at 4 months, could still fly quite well until about 6 to 8 months old.

 

[collaire]

I've raised Broadbreasted Whites for many years, and I've never seen one fly. These are tall skinny rangy birds. I don't know how to do pictures. Had my daughter send a picture to Meyer of the birds. They still maintain that they only have Broadbreasted whites.

 

[collaire]

Does no one on the BYC forum buy poults from Meyer?

 

[collaire]

bump