What are these Turkeys?

[Kessel23]

I have three turkey poults that I bought from a swap meet back in April as day olds. They are about 12 weeks old now. They were sold as Bronze Turkeys and I paid $8 for each. I am wondering if they are Heritage or Broad breasted, I am also wondering if they are Toms or hens. It would be awesome if there was 2 hens and a tom and if they were heritage bronze, it would be alright if they were broad breasted... I also have some questions about Broad breasted bronze,
1. Can they live as long as heritage?
2. Do the hens still lay eggs?
3. I read they can't breed naturally, if these are broad breasted would I be able to cross the hens to a heritage tom and get fertile eggs?
I don't think there is many uses for a BBB besides meat and I don't really want to feed some massive birds through the winter for no reason but If I can find a use for them then they might not get eaten. Anyways, here are the pictures-

Bird 1

Bird 2 ( I am pretty sure this one is a tom, he is always displaying to and trying to mount the others.)

Bird 3

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Your photos are hard to see clearly. They appear to be heritage bronze, but I'm not positive. As far as sex, the females will get white tips to their chest feathers where toms will be dark. Those feathers usually come in between 3-4 months.

Going by the heads my guess is the first two are toms and the last is a hen.

 

[Kessel23]

Thanks

 

[R2elk]

questions about Broad breasted bronze,
1. Can they live as long as heritage?
2. Do the hens still lay eggs?
3. I read they can't breed naturally, if these are broad breasted would I be able to cross the hens to a heritage tom and get fertile eggs?

1. No. But with proper nutrition and lots of exercise they can live longer than most give them credit for.

2. Yes.

3. Broad breasted turkeys are raised commercially through artificial insemination because it is the most efficient method to produce fertile eggs. Natural breeding can result in fertile eggs especially if yearling birds are used. The older the turkeys get the less likely it is that natural breeding will produce fertile eggs and more likely that injuries will be caused to the hen. Heritage toms have been used to naturally breed broad breasted hens and produce fertile eggs. Again it is best if the hen is a yearling. Broad Breasted hens do not make good hatchers or mothers. They cannot move their feet in the careful manner that heritage hens can which can lead to broken eggs and squashed poults.

Your first turkey is a hen. Your middle turkey is a tom and your last turkey is most likely a hen.

 

[Kessel23]

1. No. But with proper nutrition and lots of exercise they can live longer than most give them credit for.

2. Yes.

3. Broad breasted turkeys are raised commercially through artificial insemination because it is the most efficient method to produce fertile eggs. Natural breeding can result in fertile eggs especially if yearling birds are used. The older the turkeys get the less likely it is that natural breeding will produce fertile eggs and more likely that injuries will be caused to the hen. Heritage toms have been used to naturally breed broad breasted hens and produce fertile eggs. Again it is best if the hen is a yearling. Broad Breasted hens do not make good hatchers or mothers. They cannot move their feet in the careful manner that heritage hens can which can lead to broken eggs and squashed poults.

Your first turkey is a hen. Your middle turkey is a tom and your last turkey is most likely a hen.

Thanks a lot , do you think they are Broad Breasted or Heritage? If they are Broad Breasted then I guess I will keep them and use breeding as my excuse.

 

[R2elk]

Thanks a lot , do you think they are Broad Breasted or Heritage? If they are Broad Breasted then I guess I will keep them and use breeding as my excuse.

They appear to be pretty big for 3 months old and seem to have shorter legs and wide breasts leading me to lean toward broad breasted.

 

[Kessel23]

Alright, I will try to raise them through the winter and breed them in the spring then. If it is two hens and a tom I think I could keep them without costing to much.
Thanks for all the help!

 

[Jeffrey Foster]

I am guessing the first two birds are toms, and the 3rd is a hen.

 

[TurkeyTimes]

They look broad breasted to me. Especially if you only paid $8. I dont know anyone who would sell heritages that cheap. Better pictures of the heads, back of head would help with gender identification. Looks like 2 hens and a Tom to me. They don't generally live as long but with proper care, they can. My broad breast hens are excellent layers, very productive. They can be fertilized by a larger heritage tom