Turkeys For 2013

[GotCoop]

The light one is pretty

 

[uphilljill]

Looks a little like the Jersey Buff color. Recessive/heterozygous red gene? Don't know much about turkey genetics, but there's an interesting old article on Buff development (from Bourbon Reds) on Porters. http://www.porterturkeys.com/jerseybuff.htm

 

[kuntrygirl]

Looks a little like the Jersey Buff color. Recessive/heterozygous red gene? Don't know much about turkey genetics, but there's an interesting old article on Buff development (from Bourbon Reds) on Porters. http://www.porterturkeys.com/jerseybuff.htm

No, I never had a light colored Tom. Here is a pic of my very 1st male. I got him many, many, many years ago. He has retired from breeding, so he is just living the good life out on the farm. He is related to all of the turkeys that have been hatched out over the years because it started with him.

 

[kuntrygirl]

The light one is pretty

Thanks.

 

[uphilljill]

She is pretty. A bourbon peach!

 

[Celie]

Is everyone line breeding, father to daughter and mother to son? Are you getting new toms every year or using your original toms with the new hens you hatch or can brothers and sisters in turkeys be bred without the risk of inbreeding?

 

[chicken pickin]

Is everyone line breeding, father to daughter and mother to son? Are you getting new toms every year or using your original toms with the new hens you hatch or can brothers and sisters in turkeys be bred without the risk of inbreeding?

I plan on breeding within the same line for a few years then adding in new blood. I believe I read somewhere you can line breed for 3 or so years before adding new blood, but I could be remembering incorrectly.

 

[Arielle]

Is everyone line breeding, father to daughter and mother to son? Are you getting new toms every year or using your original toms with the new hens you hatch or can brothers and sisters in turkeys be bred without the risk of inbreeding?

I follow Bob BLosl on the Heritage LF thread, lots of great info there from LONG time chicken breeders. Yes you can breed father- daughter and mother-son, however sister-brother is not done. I really suggest reading up on breeding patterns to understand which combos you breed and why. Each method has a purpose. Eventually all flocks need an infusion of new blood. Bob talks about swapping males with someone who has the same line but both flocks are now 5 generations apart.

Sister-brother matings can be done to look for problem genes in a flock. Recessive genes need two copies to be expressed, so inbreeding will reveal the recessive genes, the good and the bad.

As BOb says, go slow and go down the middle and KISS = keep it simple and sweet.

Turkeys are hard to come by where I live. I ordered from POrters to increase my genetic base. Still need a wider base for my preferences = more sources.

 

[Arielle]

Quote: I think you are right.

Adding a new bird comes with potential problems. BOb BLosl suggests a male from a friend that is also breeding the same line of birds. So the genetics are fairly close-- but further away than your own flock.

 

[chicken pickin]

I think you are right.

Adding a new bird comes with potential problems. BOb BLosl suggests a male from a friend that is also breeding the same line of birds. So the genetics are fairly close-- but further away than your own flock.

Agreed. When I add new birds I also plan to go back to my original breeder so they share the same line but arent too closely related.