Turkeys Turkeys Turkeys- What breed do I get?

[monarc23]

All you turkey people help me out here

I'm looking into buying at the most 4 turkey youngsters in the spring.

What breed do you reccomend? These will be aquired only for meat, however knowing me Ill fall in love with one or two and spare their lives...but I plan to atleast freezer bound two of the four for sure. (thanksgiving/christmas).

SO!

What breeds do you reccomend? I had problems with bronze, they were really aggressive (we had three, 1 tom 2 hens), the male and the one hen tried to flog and chase us anytime we came near them. The other hen was sweet and even hatched chicken chicks for me. SO i'd perfer NOT to get bronze from my bad experience.

I basically want a breed known for it's good temperment, but that's heavy enough that if i clip it's wings it wont be able to jump over 4ft tall fences (if they all can, it's no matter iplan to net the top). But I also want a breed that if I do become fond of them that they also do well with laying eggs and can reproduce naturally.

Is this asking too much?

I know broad breasteds can't mate naturally but i dont know all my breed options so comment away!

ALSO....who is going to supply me with hatching eggs (i'll buy up to a dozen if needed)?

Breeds and prices needed

 

[Harp Turkey Ranch]

The Narragansett's are known for their docile temperament and they are great layers and brooders if you want them to be. They are probably close to the best mothers that I have seen. They are also not an eye sore to look at all the time.They and all the other heritage birds cost around $10.00 shipped to you and you have to buy 15 at a time. This will be your only option if you want to eat them thanksgiving and Christmas as they take 8 months to grow, and usually you can not buy hatching eggs till early summer and by then its too late to grow them out. And you'll need to order asap as the hatcheries seem to be selling out early. Like all ready some are sold out for the ones to grow out for the holidays.

 

[KellyHM]

I like Royal Palms and Bourbon Reds. My Bourbons should be laying in the spring, but I don't know exactly when...

 

[davidb]

I like royal palms

 

[jvls1942]

I have had only BBWhites and royal palms.. I will never get the BBW again. They are just not normal..
Royal palms are slower growing than BBW and they do not get real huge,, The toms peak about 17 to 20 pounds live weight.. that to me is large enough for the 4 elderly adults who live in this household.
My only hen started laying eggs in early summer and is still at it at minus 10 degrees. I wish my chickens would take lessons from her.. I have 28 of her offspring from this year.. we had many more, but the fox population felt it necessary to cull the flock for us..

The toms are black on white, but when they spread and strutt it is unbelievable how pretty black and white can become..

I am not going to tell you that they are not agressive. all turkeys have their mild ones and the bad boys..
You just have to take your chances.

I have never been attacked. our dog and my wife have been by our present Tom.. they just know who they can and cannot go after..

I have never been attacked by a chicken or duck or goose either..

Lucky?? maybe.. long lucky streak..
I am going on 67 years old..

 

[sandspoultry]

We have 6 breeds of heritage turkeys and here is our website with pics. the site isn't finished yet but the pics are up.

http://www.sandspoultry.com

On the turkeys the Midget White is by far the best tasting. size wise they are smaller. toms about 20 pounds live weight. the beltsvilles about the same but they have more breast meat.

The Bourbons are meduim sized. The biggest are the White Hollands and the Bronze. The Hollands are a very layed back turkey and have the size if you have alot of mouths to feed.

Steve in NC

 

[monarc23]

Wow! Well I think I know who I want to buy from!!!

I really like the bourbons and the midget whites! I'd order some already from ya but i'm so afraid the eggs would just fail with the freezing temps up here

Hopefully you have some in Feb/March, I assume you will but just incase i have to hope he he! Your sites looking great I love all of the information on it! After I type this out, I'm going back to your site to look at them somemore!

By the sounds of it it looks like i'll be planning on raising them to stay too (not just to eat). The heritage behind them really makes me interested in helping to conserve them.

I'm probably going to go for your bourbons...i love that color!

Niki


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[monarc23]

Thank you guys for all of your information and experiences! Reallly appreciate the information!

 

[sandspoultry]

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We will have eggs then. We have some laying now and are doing ebay auctions under sandspoultry. We have Beltsville and White Holland now.

Steve in NC

 

[kinnip]

I hate to see that about your Bronzes. I have a bronze tom who's so sweet he has a lifetime pass. He comes when I call him and eats maters out of my hand. He's never tried to flog me. Some days he even lets me stroke his caruncles.