Researching turkey breeds...

[700cct]

So, after spending time with my moms meat turkeys, I have fallen in love with them, and think I might be interested in breeding and raising my own turkeys next year. Now, I'm aware that turkeys are difficult to breed and raise, but what are the turkey breeds that are better at it than others? Ideally, I'd like the hens to do the brooding. Any info is appreciated.

 

[TheTwoRoos]

Following this

 

[R2elk]

So, after spending time with my moms meat turkeys, I have fallen in love with them, and think I might be interested in breeding and raising my own turkeys next year. Now, I'm aware that turkeys are difficult to breed and raise, but what are the turkey breeds that are better at it than others? Ideally, I'd like the hens to do the brooding. Any info is appreciated.

All domestic turkeys are the breed Turkey. There are many different color varieties.

Porter's Rare Heritage Turkeys is an excellent source of information about the Heritage varieties. Heritage turkeys can be easy to breed and raise. Broad breasted turkeys can be difficult to breed. Heritage hens can be great mothers. Broad breasted hens can be a hazard to both the eggs and small poults as they do not have the agility to be as delicate around them as the heritage hens are.

I try to keep at least 4 to 5 hens for one tom but a single tom can easily service ten hens. Having multiple toms and few hens can lead to poor fertility in the eggs due to the toms interfering with each other during breeding attempts. It can also lead to broken eggs and injured or killed hens.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I personally haven't found turkeys difficult at all to raise and keep. Choose a heritage variety that you like the look of. I find that bourbon reds seem a bit more friendly, but in general all turkeys are friendly and are willing to brood their own poults.