Unlike the previous bird that dominated the market, the Broad Breasted White turkey is an enormous bird with shorter breast bones that support more meat than any other breed. Learn more. Average live body weight of the mature Broad Breasted White turkey is between 17 and 20 kg. Hens are smaller and duller than the cocks. At this time these birds can weigh 13kgs. Food is one of the basic requirements for turkeys. Buy White Turkeys - From Your #1 Trusted Vendor Online 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. This article contains incorrect information, This article doesnt have the information Im looking for. It has white feathers and short legs. The poults or baby birds are generally of yellow color. The Broad Breasted White was another response to changing consumer demand. } else { adElemSticky.style.height = rect.height + 'px';
The size of broad-breasted white turkeys ranges between 39.5-49.2 in (100.5-125 cm) in length and weighs around 29.7-86 lb (13.5-39 kg). Although, people kill them for their meat. Broad-breasted white turkeys are the most common type of turkeys used for meat production. First of all, select a very good location for your farm. But people began to prefer the Broad Breasted White turkey during the beginning in the 1960s. But thisalso promotes questions:What is a heritage turkey? Large operations can load up to 1,500 turkeys per hour into the truck, and many birds break their wings or suffer from internal hemorrhaging in the loading process. It was produced by crossbreeding a Broad Breasted Bronze Turkey with a White Holland. adElem.style.top = ''; Male turkeys have an unusual cap-like crown that extends during the breeding season. The primary use of this breed is the same as with any breed of turkey: meat. We weren't told they were broad breasted. Wide Ranging. During the Great Depression of the 1930s, Americans preferred smaller turkeys with more breast meat that fit into an icebox. In contrast, broad-breasted bronze has a much higher weight than white turkey. Your email address will not be published. We were given two turkeys last year and never planned on butchering them. But sometimes they can weight more. These birds have shorter breast bones and legs than other breeds and are unable to reproduce naturally. How Long Do Domestic Turkeys Live? [What Can Owners Expect] - Pet Educate The life span of a broad-breasted white turkey is between two and five years. They scatter the food on paper sheets in addition to feeders only for turkey poults. Your email address will not be published. (function () { There Once Was a Turkey Named Tom Mature birds cannot be used for breeding unless the farm has special equipment and training. var adElemSticky = document.getElementById('vi-sticky-ad');
adElem.style.visibility = 'hidden'; Conditions on the truck are even worse than on the farm. When a consumer raises its own broad-breasted white turkey for meat, it usually prefers male birds over females. More than 70% of that weight is within the breast. As an Amazon Associate, Kidadl earns from qualifying purchases. In addition to protein, turkeys require a variety of vitamins and minerals to stay healthy. GroGel and Vitamin packs may be shipped with the birds or shipped separately before your birds arrive. There are officially two varieties of Bronze Turkey: The exact numbers of the Bronze Turkey are unknown, but it is believed that the Broad Breasted variant is only bred in five or six hatchers across the US, while the Traditional Bronze is kept by hobbyists and backyard farmers. The broad-breasted turkeys have a high rate of eggs hatch. These broad-breasted white turkey birds have broad breasts but shorter breast bones. The broad-breasted white turkey is a poultry animal that belongs to the class Aves in phylum Chordata. Even with these extenders, . Your email address will not be published. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Organic turkey farms use neither antibiotics nor feed that has not been certified organic. The breed declined after the commercial adoption of the Broad Breasted White, like most other turkey breeds. White turkeys are good birds. The Humane Society and PETA have repeatedly warned consumers about the inhumane conditions on industrial turkey farms. This has increased from the end of the 20th century when the broad-breasted white had become so popular that heritage breeds were almost extinct. MAXIMUM OF 40 Broad Breasted White Turkey $ 9.95 Sold Out Breed Facts Description Video Reviews (21) Breed Facts Poultry Show Class: Not Applicable Weights: Hen-22 lbs (at 20 wks) The temperament of broad-breasted white turkeys is moderately docile but sometimes they become aggressive. ", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Broad_Breasted_White_turkey&oldid=1129803192, This page was last edited on 27 December 2022, at 05:27. It is arduous to housetrain these turkeys and they do produce a large amount of poop. Generally, the male broad-breasted white turkey lives a . Hope you will find your answer. The bird gained popularity so early that William Shakespeare referred to them in the play Twelfth Night. While broad-breasted white turkeys are bred for their ability to mature quickly, heritage turkeys are allowed to take their time -- the development of healthy skeletons, organs and muscles can take up to 28 weeks [source: American Livestock Breeds Conservancy ]. White turkeys also need fresh and clean water to drink. This will discourage ammonia building up and keep them free from respiratory issues. Growing white birds eliminates this problem. Top 7 Potential Risks, Why Pet Insurance is Worth the Investment, Can Dogs Eat Almonds? Bronze pin feathers can be dark and visible. Their size and weight makes them adept fence jumpers and skilled at roosting on fences. This will ensure they move in and out freely without getting stuck and hurting their backs and legs. Subscribe for virtual tools, STEM-inspired play, They are rare and currently they are listed as endangered. Both young and adults need different requirements according to their behavior, size, and age. The Broad Breasted White hens generally lay off white colored eggs. Last edited on 27 December 2022, at 05:27, "Preserving Historic Turkey Breeds in Kansas", 2010 Turkeys Pardoned By Obama Died This Year, "Why can't you buy turkey eggs in stores? Does antibiotic use determine whether you are willing to pay more for heritage turkeys for Thanksgiving? As with all fowl, males can be territorial and even violent, attacking intruders or newcomers with sharp claws. These birds are social and will require good gifts and treats to make them happy. Nesting boxes should be clean, dry, and lined with clean bedding such as straw or wood shavings. 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. The conservation status of broad-breasted white turkeys is unknown as they are mainly domesticated and their population is stable presently. I'm not 100% sure that they are broad breasted but I think we did. These birds are raised for meat and have large breasts which are easily bruised by roost bars. These birds have shorter breast bones and larger breasts, sometimes rendering them unable to breed without human assistance (typically via artificial insemination ). That is very long for BB. Your email address will not be published. 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. A fully matured tom turkey can be expected to reach up to 32 pounds. As low as: $ 7.95 View Products. Usually the turkey to receive a "presidential pardon", a U.S. custom, is a Broad Breasted White. Although in the 20th century, the breed split to become the Broad Breasted Bronze and the Standard Bronze, the two are still typically referred to simply as the Bronze. This poultry article is a stub. Keep detailed records of their feed and water intake, growth rate, and any health issues that arise. Secondly, anything labeled hormone-free is already fallacious because all animals are raised with the hormones existing within their own bodies. We have two females that will be 3 in a couple months. Labels may say, young tom or young turkey. Most commercial growers process their birds at seven to twenty pounds and freeze them until the holiday season. Lots of free range time with plenty of walks for exercise will help maintain her health. Although, Broad Breasted White is a meat turkey breed and raised mainly for meat production purpose. They are much like ducks and chickens with wings but cannot fly long distances like other birds. (vitag.Init = window.vitag.Init || []).push(function () { viAPItag.display("vi_1472596215") }),
Be very limiting of any treats, especially BOSS (Black Oil Sunflower Seeds) and any other high fat foods. Broad breasted turkeys are huge, fast growing meat turkeys. Best 20 Tips, Can Dogs Eat Cheeto Puffs? These birds will sometimes grow big and develop health issues because of obesity. } else { Why are turkeys genetically modified? | HowStuffWorks Lays eggs every few days. First, turkey poults of one to seven days are placed into diminutive round brooding pens of about 8 ft (2.5 m) to ensure that they have the proper amount of food and water. I have two hens that are 11 months old right now and they are doing fine. adElem.style.top = '10px'; Bronze Turkey: Facts, Uses, Origins & Characteristics (with Pictures Quick facts: Lifespan: 2 - 5 years Average weight: 18 kg (39 lbs) Family: Meleagrididae Origin: The broad-breasted white turkey is a popular breed of domestic turkey originating in the. It's just genetics. Male broad-breasted white turkey price is roughly $8.90, whereas female broad-breasted white turkey or hen usually sold for about $8.05. The weight range of a broad-breasted white turkey is 29.7-86 lb (13.5-39 kg). When it comes to feeding Broad Breasted White turkeys, there are several important factors to consider. Size and Weight. What are the characteristics of Broad Breasted White Turkeys? Although these birds will live for just a few months because they will be butchered for meat. If you purchase using the buy now button we may earn a small commission. A 40-pound tom turkey flaps his wing as Chris Conley carries him to a pen at Raymond's Turkey Farm in Methuen, Mass., on Friday. The Broad Breasted White is commercially the most widely used breed of domesticated turkey. And now that you know the differences between breeds, would you consider raising a heritage breed versus broad-breasted? Lifespan Of A Turkey In the wild, the average turkey life expectancy is 3 to 5 years, with hens usually living three years and toms living for four years. In addition to that, their nitrogen rich manure will fertilize your vegetable garden. You have subscribed to: Remember that you can always manage your preferences or unsubscribe through the link at the foot of each newsletter. Broad-Breasted White and other large breed turkeys (referred to as "Industry" or "Commercial Turkeys" by the meat industry) have been selectively bred by humans exclusively for the purpose of increasing both their body mass and growth rates to make them more efficient to raise and slaughter in vast numbers while increasing overall profitability Meat turkeys just aren't bred to live more than a few months, and will often die on their own of complications relating to their rapid and massive growth. These birds are very small compared to the size of normal turkeys. The Spanish were the first Europeans to bring turkeys back, resulting in breeds such as Spanish Black and Royal Palm. We want that thick, juicy breast meat but dont want biological repercussions within our own bodies. adElem.style.opacity = '0'; There is demand for both types of meat, especially around holiday seasons like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. Turkeys are very sensitive to moldy and rotten food. 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 can be friendly with humans and may even follow keepers around, like a pet dog. adElem.style.height = ''; Starting commercial production of Broad Breasted White turkey is very easy and a profitable business. In addition to growing slower, a heritage turkey is also more active, which results in less fat. It is costlier than the white breed because of the quality of the meat. The Beltsville Small White: A Heritage Turkey | National Agricultural The idea was to get a breed that could mature fast and offer much meat. About Broad Breasted White Turkeys This turkey breed was developed by crossing Hollands and Broad Breasted Bronze turkeys. One of them has gotten bumblefoot for the second time and I am struggling a lot trying to treat it. This property makes it the most popular breed of turkey in commercial meat production. Do you want more meat or would you rather preserve an endangered breed? It is very easy for poults to feed on them. Yes! Typically they are not able to reproduce, and their life span is naturally shorter. Their legs and feet are grayish-white. The birds dark plumage affected the color of the flesh, and breeders decided to create a white-feathered bird that would not change the meats pigment. The eggs have a high rate of hatching, and few can be sold as infertile eggs. They often live shorter lives. Best 23 Feeding Tips, Can Dogs Eat Skippy Peanut Butter? At this time these birds can weigh 13kgs. But I was wondering if it's cruel to keep her as a pet? In commercial production, hatcheries get their eggs from the breeding farms. This will protect them from harsh weather and keep them from turkey predators like wild dogs which hunt them for food. This is the reason these little critters are fed on a gamebird feed because it contains 28-30% protein. Though we see stunning pictures of iridescent bronze turkeys with white banding, the most common color for commercial production is white because the carcass dresses out cleaner. In 1956, the USDA first approved hormone use for raising cattle. The broad-breasted white turkey is prone to many health diseases, such as heart diseases, joint damage, and respiratory failure. Why is antibiotic-free important? Large-scale farming operations pack in birds that can thrive in such confined quarters, allowing more production for the space. Check your inbox for your latest news from us. Broad Breasted White Turkey. the bird is mostly raised on poultry farms. Keeping turkeys can require more care than keeping other poultry. The cross was developed to produce a bird that was bigger than the English turkeys but easier to manage than wild ones. Also, heritage species are preferred by chefs for their enhanced flavor and lean meat. It is widely used for commercial meat production, as well as for exhibition and breeding purposes. And they must be artificially inseminated. If industrial poultry grew faster than it already did, it would suffer more health problems and mortality than it already does. Toss tasty treats like cracked corn, strawberries, grapes, cherries, asparagus and cabbage. The Broad Breasted White turkey quickly became a popular choice for commercial meat production, due to its large size and fast growth rate. PetKeen.com does not intend to provide veterinary advice. That is why turkey eggs are rarely available to eat. There is a fleshy appendage in the male that hangs from the beak.