Mystery turkey

[chrissynemetz]

Welcome to BYC! We're glad you decided to join us!

 

[OrpingtonManiac]

Welcome to BYC!

 

[sourland]

Hello, and welcome to BYC. @R2elk do you have the answer?

 

[Tookie]

Welcome!

 

[Naturefarm]

We have have had 2 turkeys to hatch that are very light/blonde in color. Both parents are bronze turkeys. Has anyone every seen this?

Hello! I have a small network of heritage turkey breeders in my area and have seen a few dozen adult birds and a full range of chick colors. Very unfortunately in my area and I am sure elsewhere also hobbyists keep multiple breeds together resulting in crossbreed offspring, some may look like purebred but will produce variable colored offspring. Your chicks look like bourbon red (the clear patternless with rusty head) and Auburn (incomplete here but typically marbled tan with white striations). The Auburn breed (color morph) is exactly like the bronze pattern but black is replaced with tan. There may be a name for that cross breed and photos of adults from such a cross here....I highly recommend going to "Porter's Turkey" website - there is a breed combination calculator you can choose the sire and dam and see what offspring proportion you can anticipate and work backward also.