turkey question

[austinhart123]

i have a few different breeds of turkeys, bourbon reds, narrngasset, and migdet white. when they mature, will they cross breed? also, they are about 5mo old, and i am still unsure which are male and which are females, does anyone know any tell tale signs that will determine sex? i appreitiate ur help

 

[reallemons1]

Yes, they will cross breed. The toms gobble and strut. Whistle or make some other loud noise around them and the males should gobble back. Also the males have larger, more red heads, long snoods that they can make longer and draw up and larger waddles than hens. Toms are also larger over all than hens.

 

[austinhart123]

they all look similar at this age, are bourben red hens lighter than the males?

 

[chickenannie]

nope, when they are mature, their colors are the same, although they have some differences in structure.
You will be able to tell them apart soon, if not now.

As for your cross-breeding question, you may want to ask yourself what is your end goal?

Because if you just want meat, or pets, and don't care if they stay purebred, cross-breeding may be fine. But if you want to sell them to others or continue to hatch, crossbreeding will get you in trouble (people like purebreds, or at least to know what they're buying).

 

[austinhart123]

they are just pets, but will they be healthy if i crossbread them like chickens, or will they be genetically disabled?

 

[chickenannie]

actually cross-breeding makes their gene pool stronger healthwise because it introduces a broader range of genes. However it doesn't strengthen the breed genes. Some other breeding expert (which I'm NOT) may be able to better help you with this one.

 

[pdpatch]

If you don't select Birds for the strongest traits, and just let them mate at random then the results will be randum, or Mute Turkeys.

Mute Turkey's usually are not desirable since selection of turkey's is based on known traits of a particular line of turkeys. Traits such as how well they forage, coloration, average size. With Mutes you cannot rely on these traits being the same in subsequent generates. So the turkeys end up having no real value to others.

But if you are not entending to resale pullets, chicks ect. but just keep then for your self. I quess it would not matter. But you cannot rely on the best traits from one line passing to another.

 

[sandspoultry]

Quote:
On the Bourbon Reds the feathers will tell the the sex. Look at the feathers on the breast area, the Toms will have black edging on the feathers and the hens white.

Steve in NC