How long do heritage turkeys live and breed for?

[DVTO2]

How long do heritage turkeys live and breed for?

 

[HoglundH]

Naragansett tom still breeding 5 or 6 years old.

 

[MissTurkey4]

I have some nine year old hens that still produce as good as any other hen.

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

deleted

 

[Thomasturkey]

Every heritage turkey I have had go broody at a drop of a hat, it is not just for the old.

I have a lot of experience with older turkeys. They lay the largest eggs. The poults are the largest and strongest. They grow up to produce to a ripe old age too. I think this trait is genetic. The amount of eggs they lay for me is great. I had eggs and poults by February this year in every breed. I also had poults late into the fall.

Some people claim that hatchery chickens burn out early and have to be replaced often. Maybe that is the same in some turkey lines, but not in mine. We all need to be breeding for reproduction into a old age. The ALBC did not give a "Long productive outdoor lifespan" as part of the definition of a heritage turkey if they did not feel that was a important trait. I think it is just as important as natural mating. http://www.albc-usa.org/cpl/turkdefinition.html

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

deleted

 

[MissTurkey4]

Opps wrong post.