Heritage & Exhibition Turkey Thread

[Mike Winters]

would making bantam versions of other turkey breeds be interesting to people? Or would it better better trying not to dilute breed genetics with a breed that already on the edge of extinction. Because i am sure someone with enough resources could make bantam breeds by hybridizing them with the midget white since they are kind of the first and only bantam turkey.

 

[pongo]

does anyone have any of the mw for sale either via eggs or poults id like to find a trio or incu some eggs

if so please pm me

 

[HallFamilyFarm]

Quote:
The Midget Whites were never submitted to the SOP, thus are not an "official" variety. The idea of a Bantam Turkey really never caught on. You are more than welcome to develope a bantam turkey. Nothing is stopping you. You will want tow atch the type closely. It must still be the proper type and shape as a turkey, even if a bit smaller.

 

[HallFamilyFarm]

Quote:
I would suggest checking the Buy ~ Sell ~ Auction listings on BYC and the other auction sites for hatching eggs. Check back daily as new listings are posted. You might also post a Wanted listing here on BYC under the Buy ~ Sell ~ Auction section.

 

[exop]

Quote:
I think it would be more true-to-breed to develop bantams by selection, without involving the Midget White: just select the birds with the smallest frame, and try to keep meat on them and the right proportions. After a few years you will have smaller turkeys. I think that's roughly how they did it for the Midget White in the first place.

There are a range of sizes among the different turkey breeds or as the APA likes to call them, "varieties". ... You might have a longer way to go to bantamize a Standard Bronze than you would with a Royal Palm or a Black Spanish, for example. There are miniature turkeys other than the Midget White out there, for example in France there is the Noir de Normandie which is a smallish black turkey with shorter legs... the genetics are there, you would just need to hatch a fair number of turkey poults and keep track of their height / weight thru adulthood, to be able to take good advantage of natural variation.

Best - exop

 

[Chickielady]

Supposibly the Midget Whites were breed "down" by smaller slection & cull process, not breed dilution.
There is no natural small breed of turkey to breed into a comercial white in which to produce a "midget" or "bantam" size.
We who are breeding MW Turkeys are supposed to keep up this cull process, and cull any that appear larger than what they are supposed to be ( 20# max for Toms and 12-14# for hens, I believe)
Should I not cull to keep them small, they will eventually breed back to the standard sized commercial white.
I think you do the same with chickens..and maybe the same with Turkeys.
It is a little more involved than I have written here, but it "easy" to " bantamize" most chicken breeds.
Some breeders use this specifically to breed a better bird with less feed/time & space.
Once a nice type is attained, they then "enlarge" the birds back to their original size.
I have found it interesting, but have not had time to study it any further.

The idea of the Midget White, for example, was for the American Meat market to have a small turkey.
A bird that could fit on a spit, or in an oven without scads of leftovers.
I hear tell the man's true #1 goal was to have MW Turkeys side by side in the meat case (and near the same size) as that of Cornish X Broilers.
he desired a turkey eaten by an American family weekly, as chicken is, rather than just at the Holidays.
he also wanted them to remain a natural breeder, being lighter in weight.
Imagine that!
I have noticed that these birds grow very quickly, as stated, and attain their max weight early, in 4-5 months.
That is supposed to be goal #2, a turkey that matures in less time/with less feed.
Those of you who grow other turkey breeds..a question for you.
How long does it take to reach maturity weight with your breed?
I am still wanting to get some narragansetts..or Bourbon reds.....still trying to decide but must build more housing otherwise I would have gotten some already...

We are in a small (very small 1 room type) cabin and are building our home by cash, so it is buy lumber every 'pay day' kind of thing.
So building larger housing for turkeys may not be an option for me (DH would kill me)

 

[Chickielady]

Jim, what do you think of a flock of Bourbon Reds in which Toms were mature at 20#..hens at 14#......close your eyes & picture it..and think of the benefits, pros & cons...
I think it would be fantatsic!
I myself would love a turkey on our menu weekly...
And as they are smaller, less feed & smaller housing....easier to process, not a giant 40# boulder in the bottom of the freezer....think about it.
It involves little work, but a seperate pen where you get to eat the big ones...

Sort of.
OK I am outta here, stay warm.

 

[HallFamilyFarm]

We built this coop out of a riding lawnmower crate and political campaign signs. The crate was free at a local lawnmower shop and we got some lumber/crates from Sears. The signs were left over from last fall. Cost almost nothing. Look for old crates or pallets and start building that new reycled turkey coop!

 

[Chickielady]

Quote:

Fantastic job!!!!!!!! Congrates to you and I thank you for being on top of things!!!!!!! We need more people like you!!!!

 

[HallFamilyFarm]

Quote:
Not Bourbon Reds.....Midget Reds!

I like the sound of it.