When To Butcher Broad Breasted Turkeys

If you choose to go with a Broad-Breasted Turkey, they should reach butchering weight faster than a heritage breed turkey. With that being said, at 16-22 weeks they should be weighing at around 12-14 pounds. A heritage breed turkey will mature at 25-30 weeks.

How long does it take to grow a broad-breasted white turkey?

Modern production methods have shortened the time it takes for turkeys to reach maturity. A hen usually takes 14 weeks and weighs 15.5 pounds when processed, but a tom takes roughly 18 weeks to reach a market weight of 38 pounds.

Can you keep broad-breasted turkeys?

Just as with large breed chickens, healthy, adult large breed turkeys will need to have their diet restricted to prevent obesity and other health challenges. As a result, you will likely need to keep them in a separate living space. from non-large breed turkeys, who are generally free fed.

How long does it take for a turkey to grow to full size?

Most turkey breeds will mature between 14-22 weeks of age, which means you will need to purchase birds early in July to make sure they have enough time to grow. Heritage breeds will take a bit longer, 25-30 weeks, so those birds would need to be purchased in late May or early June.

How long do broad-breasted white turkeys live?

The life span of a broad-breasted white turkey is between two and five years. Generally, the male broad-breasted white turkey lives a shorter life than a female. Although, people kill them for their meat.

How long does it take to raise broad breasted turkey?

How long do turkeys live for?

Turkey/Lifespan.

Will broad breasted turkeys reproduce?

Because they are broad breasted, it is difficult for them to mate naturally. Many times they are bred through artificial insemination. Bronze and white broad breasted turkeys are available at most poultry hatcheries and also at many farm stores (in the spring).

What do you feed a turkey before butchering?

It is generally recommended that you use turkey starter diets for the first four weeks. A turkey grower diet typically has 26% protein. Note that chicken starter and grower diets are too low in protein, and turkeys fed these diets will have reduced growth performance.

Do broad breasted turkeys lay eggs?

Since most turkeys are raised as meat birds, many people wonder, “Do turkeys lay eggs?” The short answer is yes. Hens lay an average of two eggs per week compared to the daily egg of a chicken.

What is a group of turkeys called?

Very young birds are poults, while juvenile males are jakes, and juvenile females are jennies. A group of turkeys is called a rafter or a flock. A wild turkey’s gobble can be heard up to one mile away and is a primary means for a tom to communicate with his harem of hens.

What’s a girl turkey called?

Adult female turkeys are called hens. Juvenile females are called jennies. Adult females average half the size of male turkeys. poults will not survive.

Will turkeys go back to Coop?

Turkeys will roost anywhere except where you want them to. They would go in the coop at night with no problems and roost with the chickens.

Can broad breasted white turkeys breed naturally?

The Broad Breasted White turkey is the most popular and widely raised breed of domestic turkey. These birds have shorter breast bones and legs than other breeds and are unable to reproduce naturally. And they must be artificially inseminated.

What is the best tasting breed of turkey?

Bourbon Reds Bourbon Red turkeys are very attractive birds for their beautiful red plumage. They are also known and popular for a full flavor, delicious meat and are considered as one of the best tasting heritage turkey breeds.

Can you eat a broad breasted white turkey?

Meat Production On top of their fast rate of growth, Broad Breasted Whites produce more meat than any other turkey breed. They also produce a large amount of sought after breast meat, a well-loved favorite of many people.

Are turkey eggs good eating?

By all accounts they taste pretty good! Turkey eggs are totally edible: Those who have backyard turkeys report their eggs taste remarkably similar to chicken eggs. They are slightly bigger, the shell slightly tougher, and the membrane between the shell and the egg slightly thicker, but otherwise, not too different.

Can chickens and turkeys be raised together?

One of the main ways to keep turkeys healthy is too NOT raise chickens and turkeys together. When turkeys and chickens are raised together, turkeys run a high risk of contracting the disease histomoniasis, also known as blackhead.

Are turkeys hard to raise?

Turkeys are not that hard to raise, but they differ a bit from chickens in terms of what they need, and raising them from poults (baby turkeys) is more time- and energy-intensive than raising chickens from baby chicks.

Are turkeys smart?

Not to be confused with their distant and stupid cousin, the domesticated turkey commonly found in freezers, wild turkeys are highly intelligent and unpredictable. They can fly as fast as 55 m.p.h., run up to 20 m.p.h. and have keen eyesight. All of which makes the wild turkey a difficult quarry.

What are male turkeys called?

Calls. Male turkeys are called “gobblers” because of their famous call, which is their version of a rooster’s crow. It’s a loud, shrill, descending, throaty jumble of sound that lasts about 1 second. Males often gobble from their treetop roosts, where the sound carries better than on the ground.

Are turkeys social?

Turkeys are social animals. They enjoy the company of other creatures, including humans. Turkeys can recognize each other by their voices, and more than 20 unique vocalizations have been identified in wild turkeys.