Heritage & Exhibition Turkey Thread

[sweeterdeeter42]

The picture has not been changed for the Royal Palm in the SOP for 2010. However, if the article that was posted a few posts back is correct, then they must have changed the description because it does not say anything about a double rainbow of black on the main tail feathers. But it does say "absence of black bands in main tail" under disqualifications still.
Ive been kind of bummed that mine do not have the second band since I was excited that it sounded like they met the description in the SOP. I feel better now knowing that it doesn't exist. Wish I wouldn't have spent all that time on Google trying to find a picture of one, though.

 

[HallFamilyFarm]

But look at what all you learned!

 

[jenniferf82]

Any ideas where I would go about finding quality slate turkeys?

I love the breed, have a tom and three hens at the moment and a pile of poults growing. I was happy to find any of them, but they're from commercial hatcheries. I bought them local, but, even so 2 of them are from cackle and another 2 from mcmurray I believe.

They look completely different, two of them are the lighter colored self blue and smaller birds but the slate colored ones are bigger and better looking to me at least. Probably none of them are up to standard.

Hatching eggs would even be fine for me, I already have one of those cabinet GQF's up and running.

Long story short, 2 years ago I had a nice big blue slate tom, but, he got mauled by a neighborhood dog that dug in and it took me 2 years to find a replacement. I'd like to help make the breed a lot more accessible, but I'd prefer to do that with quality birds.

 

[HallFamilyFarm]

Quote:
Jennifer,

You can get some fair quality slates from Porter Turkeys . Duane Urch has Slate poults and eggs. Duane's will be good exhibition quality. Also P. Allen Smith of http://www.heritagepoultry.org raises the Slates. Not sure if he has any available. Hope this helps.

 

[Cuban Longtails]

Hi Jim!

I took some photos of the turkies at the Shawnee show this past December; however, I only got 3 photos before the camera's batteries died on me.

I didn't take note of the exhibitor numbers, or breeds.

This one is a Slate:

Then the next two, I'm not sure what the variety is:

 

[HallFamilyFarm]

One is a Narragansett and the other is a Bronze. The ugly ducks in the background were Danny Padgett's Black Muscovy Ducks.

The pretty Chocolate Muscovy in the middle was my best drake. Danny beat me with his blacks.

The Bronze tom was Grand Champion Turkey. So far he is undefeated in at least 3 shows!


Quote:

 

[HallFamilyFarm]

Grand Champion Turkey at the 2011 APA-ABA Joint National, Crossroads!

These arrived at our farm early this morning from http://www.porterturkeys.com

There are 3 Black, 7 Jersey Buff and 11 Narragansett Turkey Poults. Hoping they are ready for Crossroads!

 

[Cuban Longtails]

Quote:
Chocolate Muscovy are my favorite variety, Blues are second.

I do wish there had been more turkeys there. I was rather disappointed in the amount shown in the open show. Maybe I can help in the next year or two! If I can get my recently acquired poults raised up that is.

 

[Cuban Longtails]

Quote:

turkey poults are so cute!

 

[Cuban Longtails]

by the way, I like how you have that watering bottle set up. Is it just a zip tie holding it there?