Turkeys

[Poultrylover5]

Is it possible for heritage turkeys and broad breasted turkeys to mate? What if i took a heritage tom over a broad breasted hen, would that work?

 

[Molpet]

Yes r2elk did that a few years ago. BB toms breasts usually are too big and get in the way.

 

[Poultrylover5]

Yes r2elk did that a few years ago. BB toms breasts usually are too big and get in the way.

Do they have to be artificially inseminated that way or can it occur naturally?

 

[Molpet]

Do they have to be artificially inseminated that way or can it occur naturally?

Naturally heritage tom over BB

 

[Poultrylover5]

OK thank you, that’s all i needed to know, thank you for your time.

 

[Poultrylover5]

One last question. If i had a blue slate turkey could it still work with a BB hen?

 

[Molpet]

One last question. If i had a blue slate turkey could it still work with a BB hen?

Yes
Any heritage variety tom will work.

 

[wilcope]

Is it possible for heritage turkeys and broad breasted turkeys to mate? What if i took a heritage tom over a broad breasted hen, would that work?

 

[wilcope]

I tried that very thing this year.
I raised 10 big breasted bronze turkeys put all the Toms and all the Hens in the freezer except 2. Then this mating season I put these with my Heritage Standard Bronze birds.
The big breasted hen's eggs are larger. I placed their eggs in one row and the Standard in the rest of the rows in my incubator. 5 of the 6 BBB eggs hatched nice poults. 11 of the 12 Standard Bronze's eggs hatched.
I am raising them together. Still to young to tell much difference in types.