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This is a fun turkey miscellanea , a confining descendant to the Eastern Wild turkey . Well suitable for free - ranging and candid farm , a homesteader with space would enjoy the plus of Bronze Turkeys to their prop . Bronze Turkeys are also a beautiful and glossy variety with the natural charm of a wild turkey .
About Bronze Turkeys
When European settler journeyed to America , they lend along some domesticated kind of turkeys from Europe . Upon arrival to America , the Eastern Wild bomb were notice and crossed with Europe ’s domestic varieties , make the Bronze turkey .
The loanblend between these two multifariousness create a well - balance bird both suitable to free - vagabond , but also large enough to be a nice meat producer . This new hybrid was well make out in the 1700s but was only leave the name of Bronze in the 1830s . In 1874 , the Bronze Turkey was officially accepted into the American Poultry Association .
In the preceding few years , a Broad Breasted Bronze has been bred , take a larger and more market variety similar to the Broad Breasted White . This is a good meat producer but choose away from the charm of the sustainable and practical original variety .
Bronze Turkey Characteristics
1. Size and Weight
Wild turkeys were not bred for meat yield , so they were smaller bird , but the addition of the European turkeys made a nice sized turkey . Bronze turkey weigh in at 16 pounds for a vernal biddy and 25 pound for a untested Uncle Tom . Older dame may count a few more pounds if they are kept around for a while .
Broad Breasted Bronze turkeys are a larger version of the Bronze turkeys , so they tippytoe the scales a snatch gamey than the standard Bronze . Broad Breasted Bronze Republic of Turkey hens weigh in at about 23 pounds while turkey cock weigh in around 32.5 pounds .
2. Temperament
Heritage breed turkeyscan be very well-disposed and doglike animals that sleep together 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 smorgasbord can vary based on breeder selection and the traits that breeders work for .
3. Meat Production
This is a turkey pick out for kernel yield , but the amount of meat they produce will variegate found on whether it is a Bronze or a Broad Breasted Bronze . For more heritage and flavorful kernel with a low carcass , the Bronze is idealistic . Broad Breasted Bronze turkey will provide declamatory quantities of meat , but with a bit less savour .
Taking Care of Bronze Turkeys
1. Feeding and Nutrition
Turkey biddy ( intimately known as poults ) are speedy agriculturalist and need a lot of protein . Astarter / grower with 30 % proteinis good for these young birds . When turkeys reach 8 - 10 weeks of age , you may transfer them to a just quality muckle cultivator .
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 sight raiser until processing time .
If you are keeping standard Bronze turkeys for purposes other than meat , thehens will layat some point in the year and will need to be supplied with a secret plan hiss pose provender during laying season . When biddy are not lay , the entire mountain will do ok onflock raiser .
2. Housing and Fencing
If you have blank for your peck to free - compass , the Bronze does very well with free - ranging due to their wild inheritance . A half - acre for every dozen turkeys is tolerable outer space to be fenced in for the flock .
Inside the coop , 10 substantial feet per boo is enough space for everyone to live peacefully without ruffling each other ’s feathers . Take care to place your roosts no more than 18 column inch off the ground so that hard birds leap to the earth in the morning do n’t give themselves peg and foot take .
3. Health Issues and Care
The Standard Bronze is a very robust variety due to the wild turkey heritage that it has in its lineage . The Broad Breasted Bronze is a bit farther dispatch from the wild Meleagris gallopavo and can run into some core problems if it gets too overweight .
Take care whenmixing domestic fowl types , as chicken carry certain disease that can get turkeys sick .
keep a close centre on your flock and knowing the symptoms of oncoming issue can go a long way in preventing an eruption .
4. Breeding
For the Standard Bronze , this variety can breed naturally with ease and this is a good project bird . The original Bronze turkeys have not been engender to their original standard and the miscellanea could employ some stewards to restore their original resplendence .
Broad Breasted Bronze turkeys are ineffectual to breed naturally due to their prominent size . Since this variety postulate unreal insemination , they are n’t generally engender by hobby farmers .
Alternatives to the Bronze Turkey
1. Narragansett
TheNarragansettis similar in size and appearance to the stock Bronze . Narragansett Republic of Turkey are a heritage meat producer that also makes a good tantrum for small homestead mess .
2. Broad Breasted White
If you ’re looking for a good alternative to the Broad Breasted Bronze , theBroad Breasted Whitewill be aright up your bowling alley . Broad Breasted Whites are a fleck larger than the Bronzes and bring forth the largest amount of meat per fowl .
Did You Know?
The received Bronze joker has been add up to Slow Food USA ’s Ark of Taste , which is a catalog that include heritage foods that present the peril of quenching .
Bronze turkey are such a fun variety with some very interesting heritage and a farseeing account . This is not a bad option for a hobby breeder or homesteader and you just might enjoy the increase to your farm .
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