Heritage & Exhibition Turkey Thread

[KrisH]

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Well, I think the Bronze is in the SOP, but does that include all varieties of bronze? and by the description I cannot tell, are the auburn a type of bronze.

Do you like the assortment just for color variety? I assume tempermants are about the same. how about self sufficiency in breeding? separate the ones you wish to keep as breeding stock? or does it even matter?

SOP for showing? I am open to the idea as we do dog shows too.
So many questions...

RobertH

 

[HallFamilyFarm]

There is only one variety of Bronze, but several well known strains.

Auburn is a non-standard variety that is similar to the Bronze. Kevin Porter gives a great definition and dsecriptions of the varieties he offers.

If you do not plan on breeding or showing, mixing the varieites is fine. But for breeding and showing you really want to keep the varieties seperated.

Yes, the Standard of Perfection is almost neccessary if showing.

 

[java girl 2]

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I love the auburns color but how about bourbon red turkeys? I have some bourbon reds and narragansett turkeys and for me I find that the bourbon reds are the most friendly of the two breeds I have

out of 7 red hens 5 will come right up to you and sit down by you so you will pet them and 1 hen named jenny demans, not ask, DEMANS that I pick her up and put her in my lap to pet her

where as the narragansett turkeys hens, I had 5 of them only 1 is friendly.

 

[HallFamilyFarm]

Strains have a lot to do with friendliness. Poults from large hatcheries are from lines that are seldom or ever handled. Where exhibition flocks are handled often. We rear all of our poults and chciks in a brooder tote until they are at least a few weeks old. Then move them into a brooder house. Just makes them a bit friendlier.

 

[PatS]

We have two acres that are perimeter fenced with 6' woven wire, but within our perimeter the front and back are open to each other. Our chickens have full run of the 2 acres during the day. We tried Bourbon Red and Midget White turkeys, but they were too "friendly" and scared the FedEx guy and the UPS lady in addition to friends. I'd like a breed that isn't going to run up and greet visitors but won't be afraid of my husband and me, and won't harass the chickens. Someone (it might have been you, Jim) recommended Narragansetts as generally a quiet breed, behavior-wise. Then I made the mistake of visiting Porter's website and saw that there are soooo many varieties out there! The Sweetgrass is lovely! So is the Tiger Bronze. The Royal Palm and Chocolate Palm are, too. (But they aren't meaty? I do want birds I can eat!) Can these more exotic breeds be assigned the general label "brave," or "shy?" (Realizing of course that how we interact with them has a big effect.) I would prefer birds that don't run toward danger and don't scare the delivery people.

 

[HallFamilyFarm]

We have only raised SOP varieties and the Jersey Buffs. You may ask Kevin Porter about the temperament of the non-standard varieties he has.

 

[KrisH]

decisions decisions. this is tough. I like the Jersey buffs we have, they may still breed in the spring, or do we order? anyone have experience with Porters, or other breeders? Suggestions are Welcomed.

RobertH

 

[KrisH]

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Do you still raise the Jersey Buffs?

 

[HallFamilyFarm]

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Do you still raise the Jersey Buffs?

Our Jeresy Buff poults jumped the fence this summer and got caught by a fox. We now have Narragansett.

 

[wolfie115]

I have a question. Does anyone know the DQ's for Bourbon Reds? I have a little hen that I bought at a swap, at first I thought her color was too light to really even think about showing her (not sure how much that matters) but now that she's older she's darkened up quite a bit and is still in a bit of a molt. But I wanted to know about their tail feathers. Her tail is all white and has like one or two reddish/brown feathers at each side of the tail. Is that a fault or a DQ? Or is it okay? We have a show that comes up in the spring and I was really curious about it.

Also, does anyone know and exhibition breeders in Michigan? I have a lovely Blue Palm hen and I'd like to get a Royal Palm tom to breed her to sometime.