thinking about turkeys again...what breed?

[possumhunter]

Well I ended up with a friends full grown RP & BR about this time last year and had them for two weeks before realizing that I wasn't ready to take on turkeys

But I really fell in love with them while they were here...especially the Royal Palm. I loved the way she seemed to "purr" for me when I would pet her. And she was soooo gorgeous! Anyways, my local feed store is getting some heritage breed in at the end of the month and I'm considering getting a few poults. I would love 3 in hopes that we could have one for thanksgiving and keep 2 for breeding (if I get lucky enough to get a jake & jenny)...I would love something that free ranges well, since I'm hoping to free range most of the time. The breeds they are getting are Royal Palm, Narragansett and Black Spanish. I would love to get RP's again, but I know they aren't really a "meat bird". Does anybody eat them? I'm not a big white meat lover anyways...I don't know much about the other 2 breeds and would appreciate any feedback. Does one breed forage better than the others? I would also love to not go broke buying feed

Thanks!

 

[ColbyNTX]

RP's are just smaller and have a small, shallow breast. Narrs and BS will be much better for eating and just as sool as the RP hen you had if you raise them and spend time with them.

Get what you like but if you have never raised poults before, I would get 6 in case you loose a few. Turkeys are not hard to raise but shipping can be tough on them.

 

[possumhunter]

Thanks for the advice...I guess I can always CL extras if I have them make it past the first month. I think i am leaning toward the Narragansett...but I just saw someone with a farm not too far from me that has some heritage turkeys and now I'm thinking about going that route. They are offering the same breeds as well as a few others. One that looked cool was the Chocolate and red pheonix? Anyone know much about those breeds? I've never heard of them...

Thanks!

 

[Frosty]

Quote:
Kevin has those two on his site with pictures... http://www.porterturkeys.com/ Just be careful, they can be really addictive!

 

[ColbyNTX]

I do have a chocolate palm tom that hatched in August. They are the same as a RP but white and chocolate. Start with the local Narrs if you can get them with a few extras. Then you can CL them pretty easy after you can sex them.

 

[Alas]

I love my Narragansetts. Very calm and sweet.

 

[kuntrygirl]

I love my Bourbon Reds.

 

[possumhunter]

Thanks so much for the input. I think I am going to go with the Narragansetts...maybe throw in a few BR just for fun...the local farm has hatching eggs and if i can pick them up to avoid getting scrambled by USPS, then I think it will be cheaper to hatch (unless I mess it up) Thanks for the advice! Wish me luck, lol

 

[Arielle]

GL!!

Wish I could find some Narr nearby too. I'm sure I can order some . . .