Our Big Tom

[ramirezframing]

the bourban red looks like a hen

 

[Frosty]

Reach underneath him and feel the center of the breast. If you feel the bone and the sides slope up from there, he's heritage. If it feels pretty flat on the bottom with a slight indent where the breast bone is, he's broad breasted. You can't go by weight, diet plays a huge roll in that. I feed to keep growth on the slow side, this avoids a lot of leg problems and keeps me from having a mammoth bird for the holidays. At about 6 months old, my toms dress betweem 17 and 22 pounds, the hens are in the 12 - 15 pound range.

 

[Stef82]

Reach underneath him and feel the center of the breast. If you feel the bone and the sides slope up from there, he's heritage. If it feels pretty flat on the bottom with a slight indent where the breast bone is, he's broad breasted. You can't go by weight, diet plays a huge roll in that. I feed to keep growth on the slow side, this avoids a lot of leg problems and keeps me from having a mammoth bird for the holidays. At about 6 months old, my toms dress betweem 17 and 22 pounds, the hens are in the 12 - 15 pound range.

Well thank you for the info. Once my husband gets home, I'll go check. This is really good info!

 

[Stef82]

I know I didn't post after feeling under our Bronze turkeys. So heres what I found out.... I checked to see if I feel the breast bone. This is what I got. He's a BBB. Hubby is planning to butcher him next week and a half for him to be our thanksgiving meal. I feel so darn bad for him, but knowing that he's only born to be eaten... Might as well get it done and over with. I felt the two breasts on him, and the indentation. The bone did not go upwards. My husband didn't understand what I was talking about til I had him feel the narro's and the BR. He's sad, but he knows that our tom will not make it through the winter due to how large he will get. So tonight I plan to go pick up some corn for him to eat for his last week of life on earth.