What kind of turkeys???? White Midgets it is!!! THEY ARE HERE- PICS

[Damummis]

DH has said that he would rather get turkeys than meatbirds this year, SO in my book that translates as, "honey, why don't you go get yourself some turkeys".

Now what kind? They have to be heritage, that I have already decided. I live in Maine so cold weather is a factor. So let hear your choices.

Hey Steve, got any poults left?????

 

[boxermom]

My Bourbon Reds did very well in this cold winter. They are friendly and talkative. I love them. (They were tasty too.

) I have 1 tom left and 3 hens. They have been laying since Jan.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Quote:
Now why doesn't my DH say things like that?

 

[yotetrapper]

I went with royal palms because they're gorgeous!

 

[Cindiloohoo]

My heritage Bronze turks slept on top of the coop during the ice storm. Their feathers froze solid on their backs. I tried putting them in the coop several times, but they just always came right back out and slept in the snow and ice. It didn't hurt them at all, no frostbite, nothing. I was, and still am amazed so that being said...I think whatever heritage breed will do fine.

 

[ccrawf]

IF you want them just to eat, I would say Broad Breasted Bronze. Great birds, grow fast and have huge breasts. But you have to buy them each year.
Last year we got Bourbon reds, a Spanish Black and a Blue Slate hen. Love the slate hen, she is my baby. And the BR are great, gentle birds. Haven't done Royal Palms so I can't comment on them. BUt as some one stated, don't think you can go very wrong with any heritage breed.
We have a hatchery in the next town and I just went in and got a few of each. Hatching day is Wednesday, went in Thursday and they gave me a good deal. Got about 23 for the price of 15.
Clay

 

[One Acre Wonder Farm]

I chose Narragansetts because they don't get too large and they're good mothers. I won't know how they taste until fall and hopefully after I get enough eggs to fill the bator the girls will decide to hatch some poults on their own

Although if I could have a second flock it would be bourbon reds. Apparently they are delicious and it seems like everyone's bourbon reds started laying weeks before my Narries did

 

[A.T. Hagan]

Midget White and Beltsville White will give you birds that a family can eat in a couple of meals or less which is why I chose the midgets.

.....Alan.

 

[greeneggsandham]

I have midget whites and blue slates. Both are great birds in my opinion. They made it through the winter just fine. I'm located in NE CT so not to far from Maine.

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

If you just want to raise them like meat birds then broad breasted types would be what you are looking for but like ccrawf said you will to buy poults every year.

If you want a self reproducing flock then you want a heritage bird. There are many colors to chose from size wise the Standard Bronze and White Hollands are largest. Smallest would be the Midget White and Belstville Small White. The rest are all "mid sized" with Narragansetts and Bourbon Reds being the largest of that group.

Table wise the Midget is the best tasting followed the Bourbon Red. The Beltsvilles are the best layers. We have pictures on out website of the 6 varieties we raise on our website if you want to see them. Also feathersite has a bunch of pictures.

Steve