Heritage v.s. Production Turkeys--Egg Laying

[gatrapper]

Heritage birds breed and lay for a select amount of time each year. How are they able to produce production birds year around?

 

[R2elk]

Heritage birds breed and lay for a select amount of time each year. How are they able to produce production birds year around?

They have selectively bred the BB turkeys to lay nearly year round plus they give them supplemental light to get them to lay earlier and later during the year.

Preventing the hens from accumulating a clutch of eggs also helps to prevent them from going broody.

Many people are providing supplemental light for their heritage hens to get them to lay eggs in January.

 

[gatrapper]

Many people are providing supplemental light for their heritage hens to get them to lay eggs in January.

I never knew that worked with heritage birds. Very interesting. Thanks for the reply!

 

[R2elk]

I never knew that worked with heritage birds. Very interesting. Thanks for the reply!

Heritage turkeys start laying based on the amount of daylight hours they are getting. If you provide them with supplemental light, they will start laying early but they will also stop laying early too because they really are seasonal layers.