What's the ideal age to butcher my Royal Palm Turkeys?

[Hummingbird Hollow]

My 4 royal palm turkeys are now about 18 weeks old. The two toms will probably be thanksgiving feasts (mine and a friends). The two hens will probably become ground turkey. At what age do you think I'll maximize weight without sacrificing taste and texture?

 

[Celie]

Heritage turkeys can be processed whenever they reach the size you like and reach their full adult weight around 18 months, but Royal Palms are very small turkeys and usually grown for show or as pets, not for eating. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Palm_(turkey)

 

[Hummingbird Hollow]

Heritage turkeys can be processed whenever they reach the size you like and reach their full adult weight around 18 months, but Royal Palms are very small turkeys and usually grown for show or as pets, not for eating. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Palm_(turkey)

Thanks for the information. I purchased these turkeys at the feed store, being told they were Broad Breasted Whites. It was only recently that I discovered that they were Royal Palm. Since I have no interest in keeping turkeys as pets, and I think my husband would leave me if I suggested that we raise turkeys for show, I'm afraid that they are destined for the dinner table. I may try again next year with something like a Bourbon Red.

 

[Celie]

Bourbon Reds are a medium size, Pretty, Heritage turkey that is excellent for meat, but you won't find them at most feed stores. Most feed stores buy and sell the Hybred BB type, turkeys raised commercially for processing at 4 to 6 monts. They are prone to heart and leg problems due to their fast growth. After 3 week, feed has to be restricted to avoid these problems. They are the breed sold in supermarkets and do not get old enough to develop the great taste heritage birds have. A heritage turkey takes close to 18 months to develop it's full size and flaver. Heritage turkeys range from very large Holland Whites, Standard Bronze , medium breeds like Bourbon Reds, Narragensetts, Blue Slates, Black Spanish, Buffs, Etc, To smaller, like Beltsville and Midget Whites that are the size of a large chicken. You might want to read up on the sizes and select one that meat your needs. If you do not sell your RP and deside to process them, I would suggest ground turkey burgers or sell your eye candy or trade them for a meat breed. Good Luck!

. Make sure you are dealing with a reputable seller and not one like TSC, where they do not know what they are selling!!!

 

[Hummingbird Hollow]

. If you do not sell your RP and deside to process them, I would suggest ground turkey burgers or sell your eye candy or trade them for a meat breed. Good Luck!

. Make sure you are dealing with a reputable seller and not one like TSC, where they do not know what they are selling!!!

Thanks Celie. The turkeys were a bit of an impulse purchase. I saw them at the feed store (I have to drive 45 minutes across town to find organic feed). I thought they were BBW. I'd already decided that if I the experiment were successful, I'd raise a heritage breed the following summer. So I'd say that the experiment has been successful, in that I've enjoyed having the turkeys and all 4 are still healthy and doing well. However, I get such conflicted information about whether they will be a tasty Thanksgiving feast. I posted them on Craigs list, offering a trade for another type of turkey and so far all I've had offered is a duck.