Midget whites?

[shelleyd2008]

This is my most wanted breed of turkey, but I'm finding conflicting information. I know they are supposed to be small, the ALBC says the toms are about 12 pounds and hens are about 8. I have a terrible time hatching turkey eggs, so I was looking at hatcheries to see how much they charge for poults and if they have any available. I think all the ones I looked at claim the toms are 20 pounds and hens are 12?? Why the big difference? Are the hatchery birds likely crossed with the Beltsville? Anyone know where I might be able to get 'true' Midget Whites?

 

[NancyP]

Hi, check out http://www.sandspoultry.com/
Steve and Sharon are also byc members.

 

[shelleyd2008]

Yes, I know about them but they don't ship poults. I won't buy eggs, I have no luck at all hatching turkey eggs. But thanks.
ETA: Their site also says 20# for toms and 12# for hens, I don't see why the ALBC is so far off?

On second look, their site gives the same weights for the MW as it does for the Beltsville, though the MW is supposed to be smaller...Idk, guess I can't find the 'small' ones.

 

[NancyP]

The difference may be in quoting live and processed weight. I have midgets from Steve and love them.

 

[A.T. Hagan]

Quote:
Those are their weights at twenty weeks. http://www.albc-usa.org/documents/turkeymanual/ALBCturkey-1.pdf That's not full maturity.

I have a terrible time hatching turkey eggs, so I was looking at hatcheries to see how much they charge for poults and if they have any available. I think all the ones I looked at claim the toms are 20 pounds and hens are 12??

The weights the hatcheries list are at full maturity.​

 

[greeneggsandham]

I wish you were closer to CT I have a breeding pair of MW that I am selling. The tom is about 20lbs and the hen is around 12-15lbs they are fully mature.

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

deleted

 

[adubsroit]

Stromberg's has some Midget Whites I believe, as poults (and eggs, lol).

 

[Smiles-N-Sunshine]

Welp hatchery as well. I have poults from them on the way, so hopefully they're decent quality! http://www.welphatchery.com/turkeys/midget_white.asp

 

[Thomasturkey]

I think the big size difference is people are not selecting for the small size that the Midget White where bred for. If they are not small, they are just a badly breed birds that should not be called Midget Whites. Look around, you will find a good breeder in your area that selects for proper size.

When I read the history of Midget Whites it also says.....

"From the mid ’70s on, selection pressure was maintained to fix tom body weight to about 13 pounds and hens at about 8 pounds."

Read more: http://www.motherearthnews.com/Sust...Midget-White-Turkey.aspx?page=2#ixzz1KfE7Zi8h