Thanksgiving turkey?

[RedHead]

I was thinking of talking DH into letting me order a turkey or 2 when we order our next batch of RIR chicks. He'll probably say no, but I'll try to work my magic

Anyways, Does anyone have any suggestions as to what breed I should go for for meat purposes? I was thinking about one of the broad breasted types, m/f doesn't really matter all that much. I think because we're going to go through Welp Hatchery again, it's either going to be the bronze broad breasted or the white broad breasted. Is there a difference in temperments? I don't know the slightest thing about turkeys

lol any advise is appreciated

 

[Rustywreck]

I prefer bronze because they closely resemble a wild turkey. My house is really in the woods, so the bronze turkeys look more natural there.
Of course once they're on the dinner table they all kinda look the same.

 

[sandspoultry]

If you order a BB type now they will be done long before Thanksgiving. We have raised BBW before and they get HUGE. They were very calm birds as well. pretty much all they did was eat and poop. They grow so fast they tend to have leg problems due to the weight.

Steve in NC

 

[RedHead]

well we won't be ordering until my rir chicks are big enough to go out in the coop, so that'll be at least another month, well maybe a little less, but we probably won't order more till these start laying anyway, I was figuring that maybe the bronze would be better, like you suggested, because our property is heavily wooded. How long will it take them to get big enough to eat? And I was thinking at least 2, I know that they can't reproduce naturally because of how big they get, which is fine. We won't want a bunch of gobblers running around lol. We're mainly doing a chicken farm...eventually we might get a few ducks, because the end of our property (40acres) is on the water, and I think they'd probably enjoy it. Is there anything else I should be concerned about if I get a couple of turkeys?

 

[sandspoultry]

The BB types you are looking at about 5 months for eating size.

Turkeys can be touchy to raise at first, make sure they aren't over crowded and are eating and drinking well when they are small. They need a higher protien feed than chickens.

Steve in NC