Turkeys - Raising Poultry - page 182

eat the skin for health reasons, a dark feather tract in the skin can make birds less ap-
pealing to the buyer.
The Silver Auburn is a close relative of the Auburn, appearing paler with white
flecks in the feathers.
Bronze exist in several strains and are the birds traditionally pictured in Thanksgiv-
ing displays. They were the first to be derived from the wild turkey and closely resemble
that color pattern. Various strains of the naturally mating heritage Bronze breed, such
as the Wishard from Oregon and the Ridley from Canada, were developed and selected
for fast growth and a broad breast. The naturally mating types will typically boast the
highest butcher weight at season's end.
Narragansett turkeys resemble Bronze but are silver and quite attractive in the farm-
yard. They get nearly as large as the Bronze and grow nearly as fast.
Bourbon Red is an attractive dark red with white wings and white in the tail. They
love to roam and roost high and are always on the go. This is probably the chief reason
they do not tend to grow as fast as some of the others. Males usually weigh in at 15 to
20 pounds (7-9 kg) and hens at 10 to 15 pounds (5-7 kg) by slaughter.
Midget Whites and Beltsville Whites are quite similar physically and temperament-
ally and are being sold as the same breed in many places. Originally, Beltsvilles were a
bit broader breasted, although since the 1970s it is doubtful if any true Beltsvilles have
been found anywhere other than governmental research farms.
Midget Whites hatch friendly poults that do not grow all that fast, and when full-
grown, end up on the small side as far as turkeys go — some folks consider them to be
a bantam turkey breed. I have seen many hens that reach only 8 to 10 pounds (3.5-5 kg)
live weight. They are also a bit on the vulnerable side and care must be taken when they
are raised with others that they are able to compete and do well. I would never think
of raising them with commercial strains as they could not compete well with the larger
commercial ones at the feeder.
White Hollands are a dependable, easy-to-raise, naturally mating version of a white-
feathered turkey for those who want ease of butchering (see box opposite). The birds
seek a high roost. They grow at a reasonable rate and butcher off at a respectable weight:
15 to 20 pounds (7-9 kg) for males and 12 to 15 (5.5-7 kg) for females. Their meat is
tender and flavorful.
Royal Palms are a relatively new creation in the turkey world and certainly have
some distinctive traits. These smallish birds are a beautiful black and white combination.
They are active foragers and flourish on range. They love to fly and seek a high roost.