Royal Palms

[bigredfeather]

I am considering getting some turkey eggs to hatch. Are Royal Palms a good choice for someone who only wants to raise a few a year at Thanksgiving time? I have a large area of woods fenced off for them to free range in.

Thanks.

 

[bee_wrangler]

If you have a big family to feed you may want to get another kind, but its perfect for a smaller family

 

[onthespot]

royal palms tend to be scrawny and small without much meat on them.

 

[chocolate m'scovy]

Narragansetts and Bourbon Reds are bigger than Royal Palms, and they're still heritage. If you want personality, the toms, especially Narragansetts, are quite swashbuckly and those Bourbon Red girls will chase dogs (and you when you're not watching, but they are only looking to you for food). Our Jack Russell Terrier has great fun teasing the Bourbon girls. Bourbons are excellent foragers. They will eat (or try to eat) anything.

 

[Oklahoma Lightning]

I have a commercial turkey operation. It is very small, I raised 60 plus last year. 200 this year if the hatch is good.
I have 20 RP left because they just didn't grow out good. Weight to feed is very low. They are more a yard decoration then a eating bird. Try a Bourbon,Slate or a White Holland for eating.
I plan to keep the RP and sell eggs this season. So, I can recoup my money.