Rio Grande Wild Turkeys anyone??

[HillCountryMomma]

Anyone else raising these birds?

A neighbor gave me 8 fertile eggs to put under my Jersey Black Giant hen that flat out insisted on going broody. Darn bird!

I don't need more chickens right now, but some turkey poults sounded kinda need. I candled the eggs this morning and saw good movement in several and good embyos/veining in all but 1, which was a dud. They are on day 14. So, if all goes well looks like I'll actually have some turkeys!

How long will it take to raise them to butcher weight? How are they gonna dress out meat wise? IE- will we get a decent breast or am I looking at mostly dark meat?

I can't find much about them online.

Thanks,
Liz

 

[Rare Feathers Farm]

I think most Wild Turkeys are darker meat...but I could be wrong? There are some I just found up the highway (about 45 minutes from us) that are Burbon Red (tom) and Narragansett (hens). Eggs are $2 each (hatching eggs) and started poults are $4 each. So I may have to get a couple of them....(hubby is out of town until Sunday). Hee, hee!