Which would you pick..Red Bourbon, Royal Palm, Wild Rio or White?

[savingdogs]

I wanted to add turkeys to my farm this year and did not want to mail-order, after a bad experience with the post office and some ducklings last year which I won't go into. In any event, my local feed store has supplied me with great poultry in the past and I've been anxiously awaiting the arrival of spring and the arrival of turkey poults to the store.

Which breed here is the hardiest, tastiest and easiest in everyone's opinion, of the four breeds I listed? All are offered straight run.

I live in a wet rainy climate and have free range access and mingle but my poultry have their own individual pens where they spend much of their time. I will be processing most, if not all of these birds in the fall and if I over winter any, it would be only a pair or a small number with the intent of creating new turkeys next year. However my primary goal is raising thanksgiving and christmas dinner!

I have heard poults die easily and my number one most important factor here is return for my investment in feeding my family.

Anyone have advice for me?

 

[seymojo536]

At best this is a purely subjective topic. Pick the ones you like. They all will do fine for you. I've had BR, RP, Narragansett and White Hollands. Currently have a trio of WH that are going into their 3rd year. Outside all the time with small boxes for them to get out of the weather. Really friendly and easy keepers. Can't really say I favor one variety over the others. If a pair of BR or RP would show up, I wouldn't turn they away.

We do let the hens set the eggs but then take the chicks as they hatch and put them in the brooder. Got to keep them warm and dry until they feather out.

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

Taste wise the Midget White followed by the Bourbon Red. The Royal Palm isn't a good meat type bird - they have a shallow, Y shapped breast bone so they don't have the breast meat that the others do.

Steve

 

[savingdogs]

Gosh that is a great tip, Steve, our family likes the breast meat almost exclusively. It is always eaten with relish and I have to find ways to "sneak" the dark meat into them such as turkey salad sandwiches, etc.

Seymojo I don't really know yet which ones I like. However I don't want to choose them for looks except for possibly how they will look on the thanksgiving table!

Personality and hardiness would be important factors for me.

So I guess I've pretty much ruled out the Royal Palms since we so heavily prefer breast meat.

 

[nivtup]

If it were me, I would be getting the Reds.

 

[savingdogs]

When they say "wild" on the other two breeds, were they referring to their personality or origin?

It says the Bourbon Reds are "heritage"....

 

[CountryBoy72]

We Live in BC( the wet coast) and have Bourbon Reds and a Spanish Black.
They did fine in our weather and seem to grow into nice birds.
Although with the heritage birds they take a bit longer to grow for the table.