Midget whites versus Beltsville small whites

[zekii]

Seems to be alot of controversy regarding these two varieties of turkeys.
I supposely have Midget Whites, and so far my weights seem to be true to the
variety. Has anyone determined any further definitive information on how to determine
the difference between these two varieties other than weight ?
Comparing Toms of these varieties at 1 year what weight differences should we be seeing?

Thanks,
Zekii

 

[Arielle]

Is this the variety developed in Mass?

I'm interested in these too, just now able to add more at the moment.

 

[muslw4]

Here's a website that might help. http://www.albc-usa.org/cpl/wtchlist.html American Livestock Conservancy.
click on turkeys and then the breed you are interested in. I'm just getting into turkeys myself. and have been doing research. I ordered some midget whites, royal palms, slate, and bourbon reds. Couldn't decide what one to go with so ordered a few of each. I wanted some for meat and some for pets. I know RP arent' good meat but they are so pretty.

 

[Arielle]

Here's a website that might help. http://www.albc-usa.org/cpl/wtchlist.html American Livestock Conservancy.
click on turkeys and then the breed you are interested in. I'm just getting into turkeys myself. and have been doing research. I ordered some midget whites, royal palms, slate, and bourbon reds. Couldn't decide what one to go with so ordered a few of each. I wanted some for meat and some for pets. I know RP arent' good meat but they are so pretty.

An intersting read-- I read all this a year ago or so, a good atarting place but lacks a lot of the detail breeders would know. I have 4 different turkeys and raised BBW. WOuld like to know more.

By ordering several kinds you can see which you like best; I eliminated the RP just for those reasons. I really like my Bourbons, I have 3 toms that cruise the yard. Usually to find us and stand and watch. Lovely birds.

 

[ruralmom]

According to the breeder I got my Beltville Whites from there is not much of a difference between the breeds. Started off with 4 ( two of each) had alot of success this summer and had 22 chicks grow to adulthood. All mine are very streamline with no color but white and has only white pinfeathers. According to what I have read they were popular in the 30's and 40's but BBW came on the market and could be butchered at a younger age. I do hear that there is no true Beltville's left but I am not going to investigate my birds ancestory. They are great yard art. Have 6 now and love them.

 

[sandspoultry]

Seems to be alot of controversy regarding these two varieties of turkeys.
I supposely have Midget Whites, and so far my weights seem to be true to the
variety. Has anyone determined any further definitive information on how to determine
the difference between these two varieties other than weight ?
Comparing Toms of these varieties at 1 year what weight differences should we be seeing?

Thanks,
Zekii

You can tell the difference in poults pretty easy. The BSW's are more stocky and more heavy boned than a Midget. BSW's look alot like a BBW poult except smaller, The Midgets are more stream lined. As they get older BSW's have a more rounded body and uniform size. Egg size will also tell you which is which, Midgets lay the largest egg of any turkey we have ever raised. BSW eggs are smaller and more pointed.

Ruralmom, There are still true Beltsville's out there. I did alot of research a few years ago on the BSW and was able to trace some of them from person to person.

When the USDA research station in Beltsville, MD dispursed the flock of BSW's some were sent to the USDA research station in Ames, Iowa. From there some were sent to Canada to the university of Guelph (sp). From the Ames birds some eggs were sent to Calf by a USDA employee. He is retired now but I was able to track him down and confirm. Those eggs were hatched and the birds ended up in Oregon, they sold hatching eggs for a number of years until they dispursed the flock. Where they went is unknown to me, I dropped out of the loop the last few years. This was known as the Ames line

Some other eggs were hatched from Ames and stayed in the midwest, that flock was passed down from father to son and last I heard they still have them. This was known as the Albertson line. Some of those birds were sold and are availlible today (or they were last year). He sells on ebay and does private sales.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/PRESALE-6-B...846?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4d0767d826

 

[zekii]

Sands, thanks for your reply ... interesting info on the body types. The person I got my midget white eggs from last march told me she once raised both
midget & beltsville whites, and said that the midget whites tend to be more broad breasted, so this is contrary to your description.
These were my first turkeys so I have no BBW or Beltsvilles to compare them to. Will probably try ordering some other midget white eggs this coming spring, and see how those MW compare to the 4 I am keeping thru the winter 2 hens, 2 toms.

The hens fly pretty well, and can clear most fences at a run, we have been clipping one wing which has helped some.

When we proceesed 6 toms at 7mo the heaviest weighed 18Lbs. lots of meat, and very tasty.

Not sure if you can look at these pictures and really tell if I have MW or BSW, but let me know if you think you can.
1st picture they are about 6mo, last 3 pictures 8 to 9 months old.

Those are narragansetts mixed in, they are 6 months old, growing much bigger than the whites.

Thanks,
Zekii

 

[sandspoultry]

Can't really tell from the pictures 100%. Looking at the 3rd picture notice the torpedo/ streamlined body shape, that is a Midget body shape. Beltsville's are fuller in the breast. Our Midgets have always been fence jumpers to until they get to full size. When we decided to downsize we kept the Midgets over the Beltsville and that decision was pretty much made on taste.

The Beltsville's were bred in the 1930's and reached their peak in the 50's - so they are a product of 20+ years of breeding, that's why they are fuller and rounder. The Midget's weren't bred until the 50's and from everything I ever read about them they didn't last long after that. The BBW's came into the picture and took the place of both of them.

 

[zekii]

Sands,
Ok i am seeing this torpedo shape, this body shape is more noticable with the toms when they are not displaying, the two hens definitely have the torpedo shape.
Hens haven't started laying yet, but I watch for larger size eggs, in comparison to the narragansette eggs.
Still will get some other MW eggs this spring from another source to compare, and breed as true to variety as I can.
Thanks for your pointers.

 

[Oregon Blues]

It's really impossible to tell the shape of a turkey just by looking. The feathers are too fluffy and are often poofed out.