Why Mix the breeds

[longranger]

Feels like we are talking apples and oranges here. Clearly for maintaining and improving specific heritage varieties it is desirable to keep them separate and breed towards APA standards. For meat birds most breed for a specific target weight, body type and metabolic efficiency. Those that have a variety of turkeys for mixed purposes including pets, eye candy and the occasional cull for the table who's to judge?

 

[Sir Birdaholic]

I personally keep my RP's pure, but to each their own. If you want to cross-breed, go for it. I've seen some BEAUTIFUL crosses.

 

[ivan3]

Accidental/inadvertant `impurist', here. Limited time to devote to directed breeding of any sort. If I was directing the breeding, I'd be shooting for behavioral traits, exclusively.

Our RP hen was never `confused' about what side of the fence she was on and would come and go without pacing along all day. The mutt thrown, four years after the RP hen's death, by her hatch-mate tom and our Slate hen exhibits the same behavior. The Slate hen and the RP tom (other Slate tom as well) have never demonstrated this capability and have to have the gate opened for them. The mutt jenny will fly into the run to see what, if any, food we might have, then will fly out to return to foraging with the others or fly into the chicken run to see what tidbits are available. Some evenings she'll hang out in one of the trees until it is nearly too dark to see but, she always returns to the run/shed to roost with the others.

Those folks who have turks that exhibit the same behavior, regardless of variety, I would be interested in some eggs.

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

Quote:
Tuna, You quote alot about the Midget Whites so I'm guessing that is your turkey of choice. Where did you get your stock from? and I have noticed that you don't post any pictures of them. I for one would love to see a adult tom Midget at 13 pounds. Please do share.

Steve

 

[MovieFanz]

I like the non APA breeds. The APA breeds are to boring. A example to me a Blue Palm looks so much nicer than a Royal Palm. When you mix colors you can create your own line.

 

[ColbyNTX]

 

[Country Parson]

The reality is that we need both----those who breed true and those who cross/experiment. All turkey breeds come from crosses (intentional or unintentional). There is nothing unnatural or wrong about crossing breeds. Modern day standards are good for 4-H projects but Mother Nature doesn't give a hoot about what some committee decides is the correct 'standard'.

I am very thankful for the purists...they keep historic and valuable lines from disappearing.

But I am open to those who cross breeds. This can be done foolishly, of course. But it can (and even should) be done wisely. It potentially offers new breeds and improves (with care & selection) lines. For the backyarder who isn't picky and is just looking for a decent bird for Thanksgiving, having a pure-bred bird may not be the biggest criteria.