turkey breeding

[Big Dan]

I am wanting to get some hens to start laying some eggs so I can get my own flock growing without ordering eggs or chicks. I do meat turkeys so size and how long to mature are huge factors. What is the best breed to do this with. I have also been a big fan of BBB the only downside is they can't breed. I was wondering if I can take some of my BBB hens and breed the,m to a standard bronze tom to get a hybrid of the two so I can at least be running my own eggs. Would that be possible. Has anyone tried that? I am very greater to get going on it. I just don't want to jump the gun and wind up with 3-legged birds.

 

[Big Dan]

I usually just order my poults in because I get them sexed. But if I can get my own poults I Can live without them being sexed

 

[Big Dan]

Does anyone have any ideas?

 

[A.T. Hagan]

You might be able to keep BB hens alive long enough to breed with something like a Standard Bronze tom. Kind of iffy though. Try it if you have the available space.

Personally I'd go with straight Standard Bronze hens and toms. Much more likely to be successful. For best growth rate and feed conversion in heritage birds I'd look around for a source of true Wishard Bronze birds.

 

[SillyChicken]

I have a bbw that breeds and goes broody, but, she tends to crush the eggs..... and it isn't pretty. She's 3 yrs old. I've yet to have luck with hatching my own eggs. But last year (before my good hen died) some of the eggs hatched. I'll keep trying as long as she's able.

 

[Big Dan]

OK thanks for the advice. I think I ,might just go with the heritage breeds. I have plenty of room too try it and I have a younger smaller bbw hen. Sounds like I shjouldnt get ,my hopes up and go with a heritage. I have been reading that the bourbon red is a great breeding and tasting bird. What kind DSO you guys recommend? Thanks for all the help

 

[Tony812430]

I am going to try breeding my bourbon red tom to a BBW or BBB next spring if I can find one. Has anyone done this? I would think the great tasting bourbon red and the bb size would be a good combo.

 

[Luv Turkey Talk]

Tony 822430
This spring I had success breeding my Heritage BS Tom with a BBB female, but not without some intervention on my part. The hen was really annoyed because no matter how many times she displayed for the toms and they tried, they just couldn't get the job done. I became quite worried when try as they might one slipped and gashed her side since I didn't have a saddle big enough for her to wear to protect her. She was absolutely driving me crazy because she really wanted to breed so to protect her from damage and give me some peace and quiet I put her in a stall and got my BS. He is extremely tame so when she displayed I was able to hold my forearm across her shoulders and he perched on my arm. Mission accomplished! Unfortunately after that she either crushed or ate all but two eggs. I took the remaining two eggs and slipped them under a BS and a RP (who shared a nest and egg duty). Now I have two gorgeous jakes that are close in size at 5 months to their nearly 3 yr. old dad. They are mostly black with some of the primary and secondary wing feathers like a Bronze. Pic is at 5 months. Both boys are larger than the BS tom was at that age and their legs are longer. It seems like the BS characteristics are more dominant because of their appearance and although the breast is much larger I cannot confirm that the offspring is double breasted. Since they are all pets, we won't be eating them to find out conclusively if it is a double breast or not. Good luck!

 

[Lagerdogger]

Big Dan,

You might consider white Hollands. They have a little more breast meat than other heritage birds. Otherwise, standard bronze are a nice choice for larger birds. Stay away from the palms if your looking for meat.

 

[frank53061]

Big Dan

Lagerdogger I think has the answer for you the HW is a Heritage breed and compared to the BR a faster growing bird I know because a good friend of mine CELIE sent me some HW eggs.
I was able to get only one to hatch but that may have been the postal service.
I already have a flock of BR and I can tell you by watching this HW Tom grow he is a monster compared to the BR Toms much faster growing now with that said I don't know what the taste difference is between the two I know the BR is a great tasting bird and Celie tells me that the HW are a great tasting birds with larger breast.
I have sent Celie Bourbon Red eggs and she got a few to hatch but lost some to predators and only has a Hen from the Hatch Celie is wanting to do a taste test of her own between the two breeds.

Funny story the HW Tom was brought up with a Peking Duck that was also sent in with the eggs and the Hen thinks the Tom is its mate and the other way around also they are very much the odd couple

If you want further information about the Holland Whites Celie would be the one to chat to her on BYC she had a great looking flock.
Here is a picture of some of them.
I still want her to send me some more eggs and will do the same for her but I also want to try some Midget Whites as well.