Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong. It was produced by crossbreeding a Broad Breasted Bronze Turkey with a White Holland. var rect = adElemSticky.getBoundingClientRect();
In contrast, broad-breasted bronze has a much higher weight than white turkey. The birds large breasts weigh the bird down, and the full-grown turkeys seem off balance when they waddle around. Its important to monitor your birds regularly for signs of illness or injury, and to treat any issues promptly to prevent the spread of disease. When a consumer raises its own broad-breasted white turkey for meat, it usually prefers male birds over females. Use the search! All White turkeys are artificially inseminated. Often, a melanin-rich pocket of fluid surrounds the feather shaft, leaking like ink when the feather is plucked. Hormones administered through feed would be metabolized and excreted in the same way that corn and soy proteins are, without causing noticeable growth. The Standard Bronze Turkey is considered a heritage breed and these, in turn, are very well domesticated. How big does a Broad Breasted White turkey get? It relies upon the controlled development of microbes that require skillful management. The breed is very good for producing breast meat. Underneath its beautiful bronze feathers is an efficient, robust turkey. A completely Western breed, the turkey originated within the forests of North America. Do you want more meat or would you rather preserve an endangered breed? Turkey poults have less meat but sometimes they are still eaten by humans and predators too. Please note that Kidadl is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon. Our mission at Pet Keen is to make the life of you and your pets easier and even more enjoyable. Turkeys require an incubation period of around 28 days. The goal was to develop a turkey that would produce more meat per bird, while maintaining the desirable traits of the White Holland breed. I don't think I have the heart to butcher her. Incredibly social breeds, turkeys can die of loneliness if they arent kept with acceptable companions. The rearing of a high proportion of broad-breasted whites occurs in different types of purpose-built or modified buildings. 11 Turkey Breeds You NEED to Know About if You Plan to Raise Turkeys How Many Babies Do Hamsters Have In A Litter? They often live shorter lives. Plans underway to breed them back being in progress in the US and Canada. Not like crazy, but sparingly Emergencies / Diseases / Injuries and Cures, My black diamond Chicken Tender Nike and her new three siblings and their parents (sorry long title). They grow quicker and dress out heavier than heritage counterparts. It is specially bred for this purpose. Growing white birds eliminates this problem. adElem.style.zIndex = ''; The Orlopp Bronze is a broad-breasted turkey, with excellent conformation and high meat quality due to its natural fat layering. Ollie, originally from the USA, holds his master's degree in wildlife biology and moved to Australia to pursue his career and passion but has found a new love for working online and writing about animals of all types. They are like the turkeys you buy at the grocery store for Thanksgiving. The Broad Breasted White turkeys are large sized birds and they have been bred for providing a meaty carcass with more breast meat than any other turkey breeds. Bronze pin feathers can be dark and visible. Others manage biosecurity by maintaining a clean and completely secure farm, refusing to allow visitors and keeping turkeys in comfortable barns to keep wild birds away from the flocks food and water supply. Male turkeys have an unusual cap-like crown that extends during the breeding season. A male turkey is called a tom, whereas a female turkey is known as a hen. The Beltsville Agricultural Research Center responded in 1934 by creating the Beltsville White turkey, and it dominated the market until the creation of the Broad Breasted White turkey in the early 1960s. Search our database of over 13528 posts with up-to-date information from our experts and veterinarians. Consumers who purchase heritage turkeys also tend to hold a higher standard to their meat, eschewing additives or antibiotics, which can extend the life of a bird raised in confinement. If you purchase turkey poults from a feed store and want to start a breeding project, first verify the breed. They will provide meat and eggs. Subscribe for virtual tools, STEM-inspired play, Poultry keepers who are new to turkeys soon learn this. There Once Was a Turkey Named Tom Your white turkeys need to have a good coop. These broad-breasted white turkey birds have broad breasts but shorter breast bones. Can you do veggies and melons? These birds will add color and also entertain you in various ways. However, the wood roosts should be strong enough because turkeys are big and heavy to support their weights. All of our poultry is raised without added hormones. I think someone on here had a hen live for 9 years, I do not remember her username though. It was developed in the University of Massachusetts in 1960. Also, look for those heavy breeds like the breasted whites because they cannot mate naturally. It is an incredibly fast-growing turkey, and this means that it needs to be slaughtered before it reaches adulthood. It is ready for butchering in as little as 5 months, but its meat is considered milder and sells for less. Turkeys are sensitive to temperature fluctuations, so its important to keep their housing at a consistent temperature. if ((_footer && _footer.getBoundingClientRect().top < 500)) { (vitag.Init = window.vitag.Init || []).push(function () { viAPItag.display("vi_1472596215") }),
I had a jake too who was the healthiest of the 3 and very slim for a BBB but he was killed by dogs this fall. The price of one unsexed broad-breasted white turkey is nearly $7.70. Your email address will not be published. It is a large bird that requires a bigger area to live. Although, people kill them for their meat. When you choose your next turkey, what factors will you take into consideration? The optimum temperatures for hens and toms are between 64 and 70 F (18 and 21 C). Broad Breasted White turkeys are a cross of Broad breasted bronze and White Holland. How many eggs do Broad Breasted White turkeys lay? Orlopp Bronze Turkey - Hybrid Best 23 Feeding Tips, Can Dogs Eat Skippy Peanut Butter? White Turkeys: What You Need To Know - It's Poultry Heritage Turkey Breeds for the Rural American - Grit What Does a Chicken Coop Need for Winter? The Broad Breasted White fit the commercial niche for a tur-key yielding larger breast muscle and, when slaughtered at a young age, it also fit the family niche for a smaller turkey. But avoiding antibiotics in your familys meat may be worth the added price. White Turkey: 21 Facts You Won't Believe! | Kidadl In the United States of America, the male broad-breasted white turkey (Heritage turkey breed) is known as a tom, whereas, in the UK, it is known as stages. I have two hens that are 11 months old right now and they are doing fine. Farmers who have raised chickens for meat have probably acknowledged that a Cornish Cross dresses out within six weeks while a Rhode Island Red is ready within four to six months. adElem.style.opacity = '1'; Well send you tons of inspiration to help you find a hidden gem in your local area or plan a big day out. Their size and weight makes them adept fence jumpers and skilled at roosting on fences. In 2020, the population size of broad-breasted white turkey was approximately 84.3 million. adElemSticky.innerHTML = ''; Also, heritage species are preferred by chefs for their enhanced flavor and lean meat. White turkeys have been bred to give more breast meat than other breeds, such as Bourbon red turkeys, broad-breasted bronze turkeys, midget white turkeys, black turkeys, Narragansett turkeys, and slate turkeys. The other seems very healthy. The life span of a broad-breasted white turkey is between two and five years. See also: Bourbon Red Turkey: Facts, Uses, Origins & Characteristics, Featured Image Credit: Lev Levin, Shutterstock. There is demand for both types of meat, especially around holiday seasons like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. In colder climates, you may need to provide additional heat sources such as heaters or heat lamps to keep them warm. Kidadl is independent and to make our service free to you the reader we are supported by advertising. All varieties of domestic turkey descend from the Mexican turkey. Avoid loud noises, sudden movements, and overcrowding, which can cause stress and lead to health problems. This does not influence our choices. Ideally, you should provide at least 10 square feet of space per bird. These birds have small and short bones that are covered in muscles and fat. [1] They produce more breast meat and their pin feathers are less visible when the carcass is dressed due to their white color. Can Breeders Cure What Ails Our Breast-Heavy Turkeys? It is costlier than the white breed because of the quality of the meat. The conservation status of broad-breasted white turkeys is unknown as they are mainly domesticated and their population is stable presently. Because biosecurity is so crucial in a bird that can get so sick, many growers resort to adding antibiotics to daily feed. JavaScript is disabled. These supplements are fed as a treat in moderation because they are not their main diet. The name Bronze started in the 1830s, initially with the Point Judith Bronze from Rhode Island, but eventually spread to all birds of this type. Vaccinate them timely and always provide them all required medicines. Currently, Broad Breasted White is the most common and popular breed of domestic turkey. You should know what not to feed turkeys to avoid ill health or death because of food poisoning.
