Help selecting a heritage turkey for this spring

[Blue Legs]

Looking to get some turkey poults this year that met a few parameters-

1- Able to self reproduce
2- True breeding
3- Larger, whiter breast meat
4- Preference for a more traditional turkey look, but no all white birds

I'm leaning towards Narragansett or a hybrid thereof, and was considering Bourbon Reds until I read that they are a totally dark meat bird? Is this correct? The birds will be able to free range over about an acre but will also have access to food when needed if that impacts the recommendations. I was also unclear on how long of a maturation time to expect, and about how long my window for prime quality meat was. Thanks!

 

[Blue Legs]

Bueller... Bueller?

 

[NY Coturnix]

Looking to get some turkey poults this year that met a few parameters-

1- Able to self reproduce
2- True breeding
3- Larger, whiter breast meat
4- Preference for a more traditional turkey look, but no all white birds

I'm leaning towards Narragansett or a hybrid thereof, and was considering Bourbon Reds until I read that they are a totally dark meat bird? Is this correct? The birds will be able to free range over about an acre but will also have access to food when needed if that impacts the recommendations. I was also unclear on how long of a maturation time to expect, and about how long my window for prime quality meat was. Thanks!

When you say able to self reproduce you are referring to heritage turkeys. I've been raising for just a year so I'm not the "expert" but will do my best.

1st all non broad breasted turkeys will self reproduce.
2nd if they are pure in color they will breed true. That means if you have pure bronze, Royal Palm, or any of the recognized colors, see Porters for a list of many color varieties.
3rd Larger, whiter breast meat. My understanding is that all of the heritage turkey are basically the same other than feather color. I've heard the Royals tend to be slightly smaller and the Bourbons slightly bigger but that's just what I've heard. I'm not sure who told you they were all dark meat but I don't believe that is true. I think they will have a higher percentage of dark meet compared to a BB type but they are not "all" dark meat.

I raised 6 BB last year. 3 white and 3 bronze. I got them from Cackle on April 1st and I processed the 2nd week in Nov. 4 toms averaged 45 pounds. 2 hens around 30. I didn't process the bourbons because I want to hatch poults on my own this year. I would guess the bourbon toms maybe 15 to 18 with the hens 12ish at that time. All have grown since them with the Tom 20ish and then hens probably 15ish.

I believe you can raise BB and artificially inseminate but I know nothing about that.

Good luck.

 

[R2elk]

2nd if they are pure in color they will breed true. That means if you have pure bronze, Royal Palm, or any of the recognized colors, see Porters for a list of many color varieties.

This is not entirely true. Turkeys that are homozygous for their color genes will breed true. Turkeys that are heterozygous for even one of their color genes will not breed true.

An easy example is Blue Slate. Blue Slate are heterozygous for the slate color. (Dd). Because slate is a dominant color, it only requires one gene for the color to be displayed. If you breed a pair of Blue Slates together, the outcome is 50% Blue Slate, 25% Self Blue and 25% Black.

 

[NY Coturnix]

This is not entirely true. Turkeys that are homozygous for their color genes will breed true. Turkeys that are heterozygous for even one of their color genes will not breed true.

An easy example is Blue Slate. Blue Slate are heterozygous for the slate color. (Dd). Because slate is a dominant color, it only requires one gene for the color to be displayed. If you breed a pair of Blue Slates together, the outcome is 50% Blue Slate, 25% Self Blue and 25% Black.

I didn't realize that. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[kandyg_99]

I Have Bourbon Red Turkey I Love Them...

 

[Blue Legs]

Thats what I ended up with, bourbon reds. They're entertaining... one of the hens has taken to bullying/chasing the roosters I have around the yard lol