When do you harvest your heritage turkeys?

[PioneerChicks]

I plan on getting some turkeys next year. I want to go for Bourbon Reds and White Hollands. The problem is the place I was planning on ordering them from only starts selling poults halfway through June. Do you think I could harvest a couple of the bigger ones for Thanksgiving dinner, or should I harvest them around December, or maybe even keep them for a whole year? When do you harvest yours?

 

[R2elk]

I plan on getting some turkeys next year. I want to go for Bourbon Reds and White Hollands. The problem is the place I was planning on ordering them from only starts selling poults halfway through June. Do you think I could harvest a couple of the bigger ones for Thanksgiving dinner, or should I harvest them around December, or maybe even keep them for a whole year? When do you harvest yours?

I just processed a Sweetgrass jake that was hatched about June 15 of this year. It dressed out at 10 lb.s 11 oz. The ones that I did last year around 5 months old averaged 12 lbs. dressed weight.

You can process them at any age. The older they are, the more they will weigh.

 

[PioneerChicks]

I just processed a Sweetgrass jake that was hatched about June 15 of this year. It dressed out a 10 lb.s 11 oz. The ones that I did last year around 5 months old averaged 12 lbs. dressed weight.

You can process them at any age. The older they are, the more they will weigh.

That is really helpful, thank you! A lot of people have been telling me "7 months minimum, a year is better" or "I don't do any under a year" and I know I don't really want to do that. Thank you so much!

 

[R2elk]

That is really helpful, thank you! A lot of people have been telling me "7 months minimum, a year is better" or "I don't do any under a year" and I know I don't really want to do that. Thank you so much!

The people that I give these carcasses have been very happy with the taste and the quality of the meat. Since they are small families (2 people) they also appreciate the small size.

I appreciate the reduction in my feed bill.

 

[unhitched]

I dont really keep to close of calendaring of my turkeys but I start incubating when they start laying, as I dont have them under lights. I personally find that it is hard to get a store bought sized bird by Thanksgiving. So I always keep a couple for more than a year just so when we have the whole family over we dont have to process 3 birds.

 

[cgmccary]

Usually 6–12 months with 7 months my average.