Several factors make the Bronze Turkey a good choice for small-scale farming:
- Calm Temperament – Handlers state that the Bronze is easier and calmer to keep than the popular White Turkey.
- Unable To Fly – The Bronze is incapable of flight, which means that it is easier to keep because there is less worry of them escaping.
Can Norfolk Bronze turkeys fly?
The Bronze Turkey It was recognised as a standardised breed in the USA in 1874. A traditionally free-range bird that enjoys flight and exploration.
How big do Standard Bronze turkeys get?
Market Weight: Male Young – 25 lbs. Mature 35-38 lbs. Female Young – 16 lbs. Mature 18-22 lbs.
Can broad breasted bronze turkeys fly?
When raising broad-breasted turkeys, we let them free range. Their breasts are so big that they can't fly.
What is special about a bronze turkey?
Bronze turkeys tend to be more traditionally reared and are usually free range. Like their Black cousins, they are famed for a distinctive gamey flavour and moist meat, but also have a firm texture.
What is the lifespan of a Bronze turkey?
Quick Facts about Bronze TurkeysBreed Name:Bronze TurkeyStag (Male) Size:35-38 lbsHen (Female) Size:18-22 lbsColor:Brown, copper, blue, green, bronzeLifespan:3-7 years5 more rows•Aug 3, 2022
How much do bronze turkeys sell for?
Standard Bronze TurkeysItem #Description1-5SBTSUnsexed1-5 $14.80
Do bronze turkeys make good pets?
The Standard Bronze is a very popular domestic turkey breed. Its primary use is for meat, but you may also raise one as a pet. Standard Bronze turkeys are generally friendly. They typically show a dog-like attachment to their owners and follow them around.
Are bronze turkeys rare?
Status: RARE. Less than 300 breeding hens were found in the 1987 ALBC poultry survey, although there may be more if the exhibition turkeys are included.
Will turkey fly Away?
Because turkeys are able to fly, those birds have been confined to the caged yard. We wanted to allow them free range in the fenced-in grassy area. However, because it has an open top, the turkeys would be able to fly away.
What is the difference between a bronze turkey and a normal turkey?
What is the difference between a Bronze Turkey and a White Turkey? The bronze turkey is the original and traditional turkey. They are distinctive by their black feathers. The Bronze turkey being an older breed, is naturally slower growing and the meat has an intense flavour.
Is a bronze turkey better?
Bronze turkeys are the old-fashioned black coloured bird once common on Irish farms. As they are slower to grow they should taste more tender than a commercial turkey. The meat is also said to have more flavour as the turkeys forage in grass and have a more varied diet.
What is the difference with a bronze turkey?
Bronze turkeys are the product of crossing domestic turkeys brought from England, with the wild turkey. These matings produced a bird that was larger and more robust than the European turkeys, and tamer than wild turkeys.
Are bronze turkeys good eating?
Bronze turkeys typically have more flavor. While consumers generally go for a commercial white turkey for their Thanksgiving table, because the turkey wasn't given enough time to reach maturity, it can actually compromise the juiciness and flavor. According to Kelly, the older the bird, the better.
Are bronze turkeys rare?
Status: RARE. Less than 300 breeding hens were found in the 1987 ALBC poultry survey, although there may be more if the exhibition turkeys are included.
How big do orlopp bronze turkeys get?
The Orlopp Bronze is the product of choice for niche market needs. Females finish out at 23 lbs. in 18 weeks, while Males finish at 40 lbs.
Do bronze turkeys breed naturally?
As a result of their size, Broad Breasted Bronzes can no longer mate naturally. Today, they are reproduced by artificial insemination only.
Bronze Turkey Origins
It is believed that the Bronze Turkey originates from a cross between wild US turkeys and those brought over in the 18th century by settlers from England. The cross was developed to produce a bird that was bigger than the English turkeys but easier to manage than wild ones.
Bronze Turkey Characteristics
The Bronze Turkey can grow to 4 feet tall and have a 6-foot wingspan. The Standard Bronze Turkey is considered a heritage breed and these, in turn, are very well domesticated. They can be friendly with humans and may even follow keepers around, like a pet dog.
Uses
The primary use of this breed is the same as with any breed of turkey: meat.
Are Bronze Turkeys Good for Small-Scale Farming?
Several factors make the Bronze Turkey a good choice for small-scale farming:
The Bronze Turkey
The Bronze Turkey was once the most popular of all domesticated turkey breeds in the US, having been bred to be easier to manage than wild turkeys but bigger than the English turkeys brought over with settlers.
What is a bronze turkey?
The Bronze turkey is a breed of domestic turkey which was originated from crosses between the domestic turkeys brought by European colonists to the Americas and the eastern wild turkeys they found upon their arrival.
How much does a bronze turkey weigh?
Average live body weight of the mature Bronze hens is around 7.25 kg. And the mature tom’s average live body weight is around 11.5 kg.
How long did turkeys dominate the market?
They were not used for commercial production for decades until the early 21st century. But the breed went on to dominate the commercial turkey industry for 20 years after it’s development (until the Broad Breasted White turkey became the breed of choice).
When was the Bronze Turkey first discovered?
The Bronze turkey was known by the late 1700s, but the name ‘Bronze’ didn’t formally appear until the 1830s.
Do bronze turkeys mate?
They are long lived birds and mate naturally (but today they have lost the ability to mate naturally due to their large size, and the Broad Breasted variety that is in existence today is maintained entirely by artificial inse mination). They are relatively slow to grow.
Do birds become aggressive?
Very strong and hardy birds, docile temperament, but some birds can become aggressive, highly dependent on selection by breeder, today raised mainly for meat production , long lived birds, relatively slow to grow
Is the broad breast turkey considered a critical turkey?
Total numbers of the Broad Breasted variety are unclear today, but the Standard variety is listed as ‘Critical’. And today both varieties are used for meat production. However, review full breed profile of the Bronze turkey in the following chart.
How much space do you need for a bronze turkey?
If you have space for your flock to free-range, the Bronze does very well with free-ranging due to their wild heritage. A half-acre for every dozen turkeys is adequate space to be fenced in for the flock.
How much does a bronze turkey weigh?
Bronze turkeys weigh in at 16 pounds for a young hen and 25 pounds for a young tom. Older birds may weigh a few more pounds if they are kept around for a while.
What is the difference between a broad breasted white and a bronze?
If you’re looking for a good alternative to the Broad Breasted Bronze, the Broad Breasted White will be right up your alley. Broad Breasted Whites are a bit larger than the Bronzes and produce the largest amount of meat per bird.
What is the name of the turkey that crossed with Europe?
Upon arrival to America, the Eastern Wild turkeys were discovered and crossed with Europe’s domestic varieties, creating the Bronze turkeys. The hybrid between these two varieties created a well-balanced bird both suitable to free-ranging, but also large enough to be a nice meat producer. This new hybrid was well known in ...
What is heritage turkey?
Heritage breed turkeys can be very friendly and doglike animals that love their owners and follow them around the farm. On the other hand, they can also be rather protective of their territory, food, and babies. Temperament for this variety can vary based on breeder selection and the traits that breeders work for. 3.
How to prevent an outbreak in a flock?
Keeping a close eye on your flock and knowing the symptoms of oncoming issues can go a long way in preventing an outbreak.
Can you raise bronze turkeys on a flock raiser?
If you are raising Broad Breasted Bronze turkeys, they are only good for meat production and you’ll want to leave them on the flock raiser until it is time for processing. Standard Bronze turkeys being raised primarily for meat can also eat flock raiser until processing time.
What is a bronze turkey?
The Standard Bronze Turkey has a copper or bronze colored metallic sheen. This Heritage turkey breed originated from crossing domestic turkeys brought to the Americas by European colonists with eastern wild turkeys. The Bronze turkey has been one of the most popular turkey varieties for most of American history, and was recognized by the American Poultry Association in 1874.
Where did the Bronze Turkey originate?
This Heritage turkey breed originated from crossing domestic turkeys brought to the Americas by European colonists with eastern wild turkeys. The Bronze turkey has been one of the most popular turkey varieties for most of American history, and was recognized by the American Poultry Association in 1874. Babies are tan and dark brown ...
How long does it take for a Heritage turkey to mature?
Heritage breed turkeys can take about 9 months to reach their mature weight.
When do Heritage turkeys lay?
Heritage breed turkeys start laying around 35 weeks of age, usually in the Spring.
Can you combine chicks and turkeys?
No, sorry chicks and turkeys have their own minimums and cannot be combined. They will ship separately. The minimum order for turkeys is 15 birds.
Can you free a turkey?
Yes, the Standard Bronze turkey would be good for free ranging. But, turkeys contain a limited system for digesting grass and plants. Be sure to keep grain feed available because of their limited digestion.
Can turkeys fly?
All turkeys can fly. However, due to their size, they typically do not fly unless scared or startled.
