Heritage & Exhibition Turkey Thread

[HallFamilyFarm]

This thread is a place for BYC folks to ask questions and get answers about the American Standard of Perfection Heritage Turkey.

At the 2010 American Poultry Association National Poultry Show in Shawnee, Oklahoma, there were over 4500 birds shown. Of those 4500 birds, less than 60 were Turkeys. Benjiman Franklin wanted the Turkey to be the National Bird. The Turkey is a majestic and friendly bird that anyone can raise and own. They forage well and take up very little room. Though many "experts" recommend that Turkeys be raised seperate from chickens, many backyard flocks raise Turkeys alongside their flocks of chickens, bantams, ducks and geese.

ETA on 11/5/2011

At Crossroads Joint National poultry Show 10/2011 there were 10,276 entries. There were only 41 Turkeys. 28 in the Open and 13 in the Junior show. Most breeders of turkeys felt it too difficult to transport their turkeys.

The Heritage breeds of Turkeys are in need of conservation and preservation. The Turkey is our only species of backyard poultry that is Native to North America. Please add a few Turkey poults to your spring chick orders and assist us in preserving the Heritage Exhibition Turkey!

What do you need to know and look for in breeding turkeys for show or in breeding?
First, buy a Standard of Perfection (SOP) at http://www.amerpoultryassn.com/APA_ShoppingMall3.htm Then study it!
The book Turkey Management is very helpful. Available at http://www.amazon.com/Turkey-management-Stanley-J-Marsden/dp/B0007HHRPW


Check out http://exhibitionturkeyfanciers.bravehost.com/index.html to learn more about Exhibition and Heritage Turkeys.

Check out our Breeders Listings at http://exhibitionturkeyfanciers.bravehost.com/directory.html

What is a Heritage Turkey?

See the Heritage Turkey poster at http://heritageturkeyfoundation.org . Prized for their rich flavor and beautiful plumage, Heritage Turkeys are the ancestors of the common Broad-breasted White industrial breed of turkey that comprises 99.99% of the supermarket turkeys sold today. But the Heritage Breeds still exist and are making a comeback. Most breeds of heritage turkey were developed in the United States and Europe over hundreds of years, and were identified in the American Poultry Association's turkey Standard of Perfection of 1874. These breeds include the Standard Bronze, Bourbon Red, Narragansett, Jersey Buff, Slate, Black Spanish, and White Holland. Later added to the standard were the Royal Palm, White Midget and Beltsville Small White.

Large corporations have dominated turkey production and breeding since the 1960's, choosing the Broad Breasted Whites because of high breast meat production in a short period. But Heritage Breeds have been quietly gaining a renewed market and respect due to their flavor and superior biological diversity.

Exhibition Turkey Fanciers

Established in 2010 to promote the Native American Exhibition Turkey.

Exhibition Turkey Fanciers was formed in the summer of 2010 to promote this deserving and under-represented species of poultry by encouraging communication, fellowship, exhibition, and sharing of stock by creating a Turkey Breeders Directory.

As we grow the benefits of membership will include regular newsletters, eligibility for show awards sponsored by E.T.F. and its members, and much more. At present we will make this yahoo group our home, with membership free to all.

The American Poultry Association currently recognizes the following varieties of Turkeys: Black, Bourbon Red, Slate, Narragansett,
White Holland, Bronze, Beltsville White, Royal Palm. Other varieties may be shown in exhibition, but can only win AOV: "All Other Variety" if a quality standard recognized variety is present.

Jim A. Hall
Secretary
Exhibition Turkey Fanciers

http://exhibitionturkeyfanciers.bravehost.com

Here is a must read for any Turkey breeder, owner or fancier!

Book Title:

Turkey Management

Authors :

Marsden, Stanley J., 1897-
Martin, Joseph Holmes, 1895-

Publication Info:

Ithaca, New York: Cornell University, Mann Library

Print source:

Danville, Ill.: The Interstate, c1939.

Subject terms: Turkeys

URL:

http://chla.library.cornell.edu/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=chla;idno=3317008

http://chla.library.cornell.edu/cgi...Management;idno=3317008;view=toc;frm=frameset

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Storey’s Guide to Raising Turkeys, 2nd Edition

http://storey.com/book_detail.php?isbn=9781580172615&cat=Animals&subcat=Livestock&p=20

Breeds, Care, Health

Storey’s Guide to Raising Turkeys covers everything you need to know to raise turkeys successfully, including breed selection, housing, space requirements, breeding and birthing techniques, feeding and nutrition, behavior, and health care.

$ 18.95 US


Paper
Pages: 208
Size: 6 x 9
Color: Photographs and illustrations throughout
ISBN: 978-1-58017-261-5​

 

[aoxa]

THis is not a simple answer. My crew does a little foraging now, and did much more in the summer, though not nearly what the chickens do. It also depends on how old the birds are. THe bigger they are, the more they eat; when they are growing they eat; mature birds don't eat so much.

Sorry, I know this is not the answer you are looking for. Perhaps someone has lkept a log of the number of pounds of grain they have feed out for the number of birds they have raised. I only know that one of the hatchery sites has estimate grain use for the BBW.

http://albc-usa.org/documents/turkeymanual/ALBCturkey-4.pdf
This is really helpful.



Quote:

Pounds of Feed Per Bird Consumed During

a two week Period (Table adapted from Turkey
Management by Marsden and Martin)
age in weeks Lbs. of Feed
1-2 0.6
3-4 1.75
5-6 1.9
7-8 2.84
9-10 3.54
11-12 4.32
13-14 5.48
15-16 5.68
17-18 6.65
19-20 6.92
22-22 7.93
24-24 8.24
26-26 8.37
28-28 8.71

 

[mamawolf544]

I raise Blue Slates, along with Midget Whites, Royal Palms, Chocolates and Rio Grande. They all grow about the same to me, slow and steady.

Mine have covers over their roost in the breeding pen but when they free range they just sllep anywhere from my roof, porch or on the fence and it doesn't bother them.

I do have poults coming from Porters...Sweetgrass, Self Blues, Bourbon Reds and Red Pencilled Palms.

 

[Arielle]

Quick question... About how many ounces of feed or food does a single turkey eat a day? Or how much do you feed them on a day to day basis per turkey? Thanx!

THis is not a simple answer. My crew does a little foraging now, and did much more in the summer, though not nearly what the chickens do. It also depends on how old the birds are. THe bigger they are, the more they eat; when they are growing they eat; mature birds don't eat so much.

Sorry, I know this is not the answer you are looking for. Perhaps someone has lkept a log of the number of pounds of grain they have feed out for the number of birds they have raised. I only know that one of the hatchery sites has estimate grain use for the BBW.

 

[Farmerboy16]

Quick question... About how many ounces of feed or food does a single turkey eat a day? Or how much do you feed them on a day to day basis per turkey? Thanx!

The owner of Porter's heritage turkeys gave me this- Toms eat a pound a day, hens eat half a pound a day. This is for heritage turkeys that don't free range.

 

[wasteaway]

Thats pretty cool! and good to know. I'm going to have to let my hens hatch and rais turkeys too. Did any of them get sick or die while she was caring for them?

None got sick at all. She is still with them though they are twice her size now. A word of caution though. There are a few things to be aware of if you go this route. One is obvious; The bantam is small and her ability to cover and provide body heat is limited so care must be taken to make sure she has some backup in the form of a heat lamp especially in this case of a late fall hatch. Also I have learned from the first time that the chicks seem to have a tough time getting out of the eggs. We lost two or three the first time we put Felix on the job. IDK if having a small chicken on the eggs does not keep the proper humidity or what it is but this time I watched the eggs (dated them first) and as soon as I saw the beak break in the first egg I did a little eggshell trimming. I gave each poult a jump start by chipping away some shell to insure they could break out of their eggs. This time all 6 hatched and sprouted.

Yes, she raises them and as they mature they seem to naturally migrate towards their own and eventually will roost with the turkeys and hang with them full time. Hopefully I end up with a couple of broody hens out of this batch and a good mother who will raise her own poults. But rest assured, Felix will be hatching someone's offspring be it turkeys, layers, bantams or her own. She loves it. Awesome mother instincts.

 

[Haunted55]

One of my turkeys ate cactus two days ago an now he wont eat at all. Do you think that maybe a thorn might have gottens stuck in him? What can I give him so that he might recover and start eating again? Thanx

Maybe bread? I'm guessing here but someone told me to do it with my gander who swallowed something he shouldn't have and it worked. If there are spines in there, if you can get them down to the gut it will grind them up and they should just be absorbed. I would also make sure the cactus it got into isn't one that has toxins in it. There are a couple that have high alkalinity and they will burn. See what you've got first and then if it is one that is questionable, maybe some yogurt with the bread.

I hope someone who knows more than me chimes in here!!!

 

[ashandvine]

If you are going to use bread, which isn't a bad idea, oil it first. When chickens have issues like this olive oil given in a syringe is what we use.

 

[elizmartin]

One of my turkeys ate cactus two days ago an now he wont eat at all. Do you think that maybe a thorn might have gottens stuck in him? What can I give him so that he might recover and start eating again? Thanx

If he is drinking water willingly, that is good....i would continue trying to give him the vits and healthy bread with oil, probiotics/yogurt to help with stomach flora.....if you have other poultry feed or cob/scratch or food scraps see if that interests him......if with other birds, does he follow them if you scatter feed? If you have other livestock and keep on hand *Red Cell or *Goat Nutra drench, i have diluted it in my poultry water for extra nutrients/iron on a limited basis. Drinking without eating is ok for a short while but will need calories to keep warm and survive. If you have other turkeys to check difference, does he feel warmer as if feverish????

Do you notice any difference in his neck that could be a swelling or if held and you gently touch his neck do you feel anything or is there a point where he reacts as if sore?

Is he where you can monitor his poop, color and amount without stressing him? Think that the Yellow coloration could be toxin related? So as long as he continues to drink maybe could flush out of system????

Just some thoughts.....

 

[ashandvine]

Three eggs in the bator and hoping.