Turkeys - Raising Poultry - page 184

to many Native American cultures. Preservationists to the heart, they are preserving
not only turkey genetics but also an important part of Native American heritage.
The Porters are also active in promoting proper animal stewardship and informing
the public about animal owners' rights to raise and perpetuate farm animals as well
as household pets. They have a deep passion for the continuance of traditional live-
stock and poultry raising that promotes a healthy environment for the animals and
traditional animal husbandry.
If you visit their website, you'll marvel at the magnificent color patterns of such
varieties as Calico, Chocolate Palm, Fall Fire, and many others. They also offer a
wealth of information on genetics and breeding patterns.
Black Spanish are perhaps unique among turkey breeds. In many years of raising
them, I have found them to be the most tolerant of the diseases that affect turkeys. They
resist or easily recover from mycoplasmas, sinus infections, worms, lice, and other para-
sites, and seem to handle blackhead better than any other turkey breed. For some reason
their immune system seems to be stronger than that of all of the other breeds. Currently
several universities are conducting studies to determine why this is so.
Do not let the bird's black feathers make you think they are not worthy of butchering,
as many modern folks have come to believe. They are a fine table fowl, and although the
residue of young and growing black feathers is like ink, when butchered at the proper
time, the feathers are easily removed and rarely leave pigments in the skin.
Lilacs certainly deserve mention, but controversy exists over their genetic makeup.
The original genetic registry lists them as a three-way heterozygous cross , which
means they do not breed true and not all the offspring will resemble the parents. Only
about 25 percent of the hatched birds are pure Lilac, while 75 percent are divided
between three other genetic mixes. Lilacs are strictly for the person who wants a vibrant,
colorful backyard. The 25 percent with the lilac color pattern are gorgeous with their
shades of blue-red and other soft colors. Up close the feathers appear to have a spray-
can mist of red on them.
Regal Reds, Harvest Golds, Blue Palms, Oregon Greys, and others all come in
various color patterns and possess other traits that make them unique in some fashion.
Nothing says you cannot raise a colorful bird that eventually ends up as dinner. The only
catch is that you may be ambivalent about butchering breeds that look so beautiful roam-
ing around the barnyard.