Heritage & Exhibition Turkey Thread

[HallFamilyFarm]

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Its Virginia's extra testing requirements. You might consider a friend in a nearby state that will allow you to ship there, then hold them till you can get the neccessary testing done.

 

[HallFamilyFarm]

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There are just a few requirements to join us.....order some turkey poults....dance in a circle three times while gobbling like a turkey ...... Stick a turkey feather in a hat and call it macaroni...

Anyone can join in. It's free!

 

[java girl 2]

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There are just a few requirements to join us.....order some turkey poults....dance in a circle three times while gobbling like a turkey ...... Stick a turkey feather in a hat and call it macaroni...

Anyone can join in. It's free!

# 1 I have some turkeys! # 2 I just did the turkey dance # 3 I got to git a turkey feather and a hat!!!

 

[Laingcroft]

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Nope, not gonna happen. The only friends I have in a nearby state i.e. Maryland (NC is also on the do not ship list) live in residential areas that don't allow poultry. Friends in NJ and NY are much too far away. Don't know anyone in WV.

There are other options for turkey poults, but I really like some of Porter's crosses like the Golden Narragansett. Guess I have to start from square one and make my own crosses

 

[CarolinaChickenKeeper]

So, are MW's similar in shape and size to the holland and beltsville? When I bought my eggs I just assumed they were MW's bc that's what I was told. I would just like to confirm that's what I have

 

[HallFamilyFarm]

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On our ETF forum I asked these questions and recieved a response from well respected poultry judge Brian Decker:


How different are the Midget Whites from the other whites?

Would they ever be accepted in the SOP?

Have received several questions about the Midget Whites lately.

From the ALBC... http://www.albc-usa.org/cpl/midgetwhite.html

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As with many things written by the ALBC there are huge inaccuracies in their description of the Midget White and it's story. The are only marginally smaller that a Beltsville Small White and not near as broad in the breast. They can never become a Standard variety in the APA because there is very little difference between the two. I had Midget Whites straight from eggs supplied by the University of Wisconsin in the late 90's. In my opinion they are not as good a market turkey as a Beltsville. If one has them and wants to show you would show them as Beltsvilles and if they are in good condition one may well win the class with them. Midgets were research turkeys. When I received my Midget eggs from Ron Keen from the UW he stated that they were on an all in all out program and had at that time had 27 generations in 27 years. He stated that about all they culled for was too big or too small.

Brian Decker
APA/ABA judge
Breeder of Dark and White Cornish bantams
Large Australorps and Mottled Javas
Beltsville Small White Turkeys​

 

[CarolinaChickenKeeper]

So what I gather from this is.....
Holland Whites are larger of the three.
BSW and MW's are very similar. Maybe different in temperament, keel, and breast size.
MW's can fly very well.
Some may have MW and show them as BSW.
And some may think they have MW's which are probably BSW's.

So, how will I ever truly know what I have?

Thinking I need to swap over to BSW.

Question? Wonder how long it takes for mw to matthew? Aka when do they get their chest hair and distinctive male characteristics?

 

[Jake Levi]

While on the subject of MWs, how is their Breeding: Early Maturity? Fertility? Clutch size?

What is the mature size that folks are getting?

 

[HallFamilyFarm]

Its been over 50 years and the Midget White was never popular enough to gain acceptance in the Standard. If an APA judge that raises his Beltsville for meat feels they are too similar to be accepted, perhaps the MW should just be "absorbed" into the Beltsville.

The Blue and Black Orpington Duck was absorbed into the Blue Swedish duck flocks. The APA changed the name of the Buff Orpington duck to Buff Duck. For a breed to be a breed it should have enough difference to stand out on its own. The Albertan comes to mind. It was developed by a fellow named Dr. Wilkinson of Alberta. He wanted a new Canadian breed of chicken. However when he submitted the Albertan to the Standards Committee, the Standards Committee changed its name to the Chantecler, as it was closer to the chantecler in type and size. Only its color was different.

Perhaps the Midget Whites should be interbred with the Beltsville and bred to the Beltsville Small White standard?

 

[CarolinaChickenKeeper]

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Mine were born late June. No eggs yet, and still unable to sex. I believe the reason they have gained such recent popularity is due to a mother earth news article which labels them as "the perfect homestead turkey."