obstinate to most turkey , Midget Whites are not prominent , unlike the Broad Breasted Whites that Midget Whites were engender after . These turkey are only a spot larger than the biggest chickens . Unfortunately , Midget White joker are not an overly popular variety despite their fantastical attribute for a little plate James Leonard Farmer with circumscribed infinite .
About Midget White Turkeys
In the 1960s , the Midget Whites were bred with the goal of being a Broad Breasted White turkey , but smaller . Dr. J Robert Smythe was mostly responsible for cover the original breed for the sort at the University of Massachusetts .
It was conceive there would be a market for this miscellanea , but once the turkeys were available , they did n’t get the care ab initio prognosticate .
As the miscellany was break out , one of Dr. Smythe ’s grad remembered the Midget White Turkeys and worked to restore it . This former educatee was named Dr. Bernie Wentworth and is responsible for for refine the variety that we know today .
Midget White Turkeys are still in danger of dying out completely , and the only someone that are work to preserve the form are individual stock breeder .
Midget White Characteristics
1. Size and Weight
Living up to their championship of the low bomb variety around , Midget White Turkeys are certainly not as big as one might imagine when depict a dud . A full - grown Midget White biddy weighs less than some full grown chickens . At a fully fledged exercising weight , this turkey hen weighs between 8 and 10 pounds . For toms , full grown weight is approximately 13 pounds .
2. Temperament
One affair these petite turkey are known for is their docile and friendly dispositions . These birds will even take the air right up to you rather boldly and unafraid . Midget White hen also make fantastic mothers and are good at nurturing their immature .
3. Meat Production
Despite the fact they are little , Midget Whites are well - review birds for their meat calibre . These turkeys have very broad breasts and produce a practiced amount of sought - after breast inwardness . Many turkey keeper rank the meat of Midget Whites above meat from other , more democratic substance varieties .
4. Egg Production
ballock production from Midget Whites is approximately 60 - 80 eggs per class . Of of course , this is n’t much compare to a Gallus gallus ’s one-year egg production , but it ’s enough to hatch a few flock of poults per year to keep your good deal run .
Caring for Midget White Turkeys
1. Feeding and Nutrition
Young turkeys grow chop-chop and requiremore proteinthan most poultry case . It ’s best to feed your poults with a 30 % protein starter until your poults are eight weeks erstwhile . When your poults are 8 week old , flip them to a high - quality pot raiser with 20 % protein and eminent - large calorie depicted object .
If you are raising your Midget Whites for meat , you could keep your joker on their tidy sum agriculturist until butchering clock time . However , if you have turkey henslaying egg , it is good to put them on game bird repose feed during laying time of year .
If potential , keep your tom turkey on flock raiser while your hens eat the laying feed . When your turkey are n’t bring out egg , you could put the whole mess on their mess raiser .
2. Housing and Fencing
Although most turkeys require a substantial amount of infinite , Midget Whites are not as demand in their spatial requirements . Inside your coop , provide a minimum of eight square foot per turkey . It ’s also a salutary idea to keep roost low to the ground for your Republic of Turkey . A rod in high spirits than 18 inches off the ground can give turkeys leg issues when hopping down every morning .
For most turkeys , a minimum of a half acre for every dozen dud is recommended . However , for Midget Whites , you canpastureup to 18 full grown turkeys on a half Akko .
3. Health Issues and Care
Midget White Turkeys are not any more susceptible to mutual turkey illnesses than the next variety . However , Blackhead is a common wellness issue that affects turkeys . It ’s important to check the sign of the zodiac and prevention for Blackhead so you could maintain a healthy flock .
chicken are not as vulnerable to Blackhead as Republic of Turkey are , but they can be carriers of the sponge and get turkeys pale . It ’s best to domiciliate your dud and volaille on an individual basis if you own both types of poultry .
In addition to Blackhead , keep a close eye out for internal and external parasites on your turkey such as worms , tinge , and lice . Make certain they have gooddust bathingspace to help forestall these problems .
A sleepless eye on your turkeys to catch any issues early on so you could snip it in the bud is primal to uphold a thriving flock .
4. Breeding
As a Midget White Republic of Turkey breeder , the openhanded matter you will demand to be diligent in breeding for , is size . Many breeders tend to get give ear up on other aspects of Midget White breeding and terminate up with larger bird than normal for this multifariousness . Hatch rates for most Midget Whites tend to be around 75 - 80 grant to the Livestock Conservancy .
Midget White Turkey Variety Alternatives
1. Beltsville Small White
This variety is outstandingly similar to Midget Whites , and sometimes these two are even parade under the same name . Beltsville Small Whites are the next minor variety of turkey . In increase to their law of similarity in size , Beltsville Small Whites have like essence and egg production qualities .
2. Broad Breasted White
Since Midget White turkeys were modeled after Broad Breasted Whites , these two variety certainly hold many similarity . The biggest differences in these two varieties are their size and rate of outgrowth . Broad Breasted White turkeys weigh up to 20 pound more than a Midget White and grow agile . If you want a more or less more commercial-grade variety for your turkey meat , Broad Breasted turkeys might be the way to go .
Did You Know?
Due to many similarities between Midget White and Beltsville Small White Meleagris gallopavo , many people consider they are the same variety . Despite this common and understandable misconception , the two variety are different and should each be handled as their own unique variety .
Researching these Meleagris gallopavo has made me want to put forward some of my own , what about you ? The sizing of these birds cause them very compatible with minor scale farms . Or , if you want turkey centre but do n’t feel like roasting an 18 - pound bird , here is a dandy motley for little sum of meat . It is doubtlessly an underrated turkey motley that many homesteads could greatly benefit from .
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