Whether your interest is backyard production to feed your family, extra income, or preservation and exhibition of heritage birds, Bourbon Red Turkeys for sale are an excellent choice. They're hardy, easy to raise, easy to breed. They eat a variety of plants, insects, vegetables, and fruits. Spread a supplemental turkey feed at night to encourage free range birds to return to the safety of the coop for the night, and to keep birds healthy throughout all the seasons.
Pennsylvania settlers developed Tuscarora Reds (or Tuscawara Reds) by breeding only the darkest Buff turkeys. Tuscarora Reds were carried to Kentucky and Ohio during the late 1800s. J. F. Barbee is given credit for creating the Bourbon Reds, sometimes called Kentucky Red Bourbons or Butternut turkeys, by crossbreeding Tuscarora Reds, White Hollands, and Standard Bronzes. The American Poultry Association officially recognized the breed around 1909.
Bourbon Reds were a popular consumer choice during the 1930's and 1940's. The introduction of the Broad Breasted White turkey led to the retirement and near extinction of earlier domestic breeds. Fortunately, most have survived and dedicated breeders are working to expand and preserve heritage breeds. The Bourbon Red turkey is still considered a rare breed, but it's population is on the rise. Backyard producers find this breed to be a hardy bird, easy to raise, and tasty to eat. It retains many of it's wild cousins natural instincts and abilities, including the ability to fly.
The original breed standard was 33 pounds, or 15 kilograms for toms, 18 pounds or 8.2 kilograms for hens. The recommended weight for a table ready bird was 23 pounds or 10.4 kilograms for toms, 14 pounds or 6.3 kilograms for hens. Breeders hope to restore these standards, but due to the dwindling of the population, current weights vary widely.
This is an attractive bird, flaunting a red plumage with white flight and tail feathers. Tail feathers sport red bars across the ends. Breast and neck feathers are chestnut mahogany. Undercolor feathers are light buff to white. Beaks are horn colored at the tip, darker at the base. They also sport a black beard, a red wattle, pink toes and shanks.
Turkeys need about 4 feet of feeding area per bird to prevent food fights. Set up multiple feed stations, or spread feed out on the ground for forage. Fence day time pastures to protect birds from predators. Lots of night time predators find turkeys delicious. Provide a fully protected and roofed coop at night, and as a daytime shelter from inclement weather.
Coops must be raked daily, disinfected monthly, to maintain a healthy flock. Small backyard producers will need to rake their yards daily to remove feces. Of course clean water should be available always. Rotate birds between pastures for the health of the pasture as well as the health of the birds.
Save a rare breed while providing food for the table, and have fun while doing it. This friendly bird will come running at feeding time. These birds will follow you around the pasture, getting under foot as they attempt to satisfy their natural curiosity. They're hardy with a lengthy, 5 to 10 year lifespan. They're ready for the table anytime after 6 months. A little older and fatter is recommended for tender, tasty meat with a nice mix of white and dark. And for a little variety, their eggs are also quite tasty.
Pennsylvania settlers developed Tuscarora Reds (or Tuscawara Reds) by breeding only the darkest Buff turkeys. Tuscarora Reds were carried to Kentucky and Ohio during the late 1800s. J. F. Barbee is given credit for creating the Bourbon Reds, sometimes called Kentucky Red Bourbons or Butternut turkeys, by crossbreeding Tuscarora Reds, White Hollands, and Standard Bronzes. The American Poultry Association officially recognized the breed around 1909.
Bourbon Reds were a popular consumer choice during the 1930's and 1940's. The introduction of the Broad Breasted White turkey led to the retirement and near extinction of earlier domestic breeds. Fortunately, most have survived and dedicated breeders are working to expand and preserve heritage breeds. The Bourbon Red turkey is still considered a rare breed, but it's population is on the rise. Backyard producers find this breed to be a hardy bird, easy to raise, and tasty to eat. It retains many of it's wild cousins natural instincts and abilities, including the ability to fly.
The original breed standard was 33 pounds, or 15 kilograms for toms, 18 pounds or 8.2 kilograms for hens. The recommended weight for a table ready bird was 23 pounds or 10.4 kilograms for toms, 14 pounds or 6.3 kilograms for hens. Breeders hope to restore these standards, but due to the dwindling of the population, current weights vary widely.
This is an attractive bird, flaunting a red plumage with white flight and tail feathers. Tail feathers sport red bars across the ends. Breast and neck feathers are chestnut mahogany. Undercolor feathers are light buff to white. Beaks are horn colored at the tip, darker at the base. They also sport a black beard, a red wattle, pink toes and shanks.
Turkeys need about 4 feet of feeding area per bird to prevent food fights. Set up multiple feed stations, or spread feed out on the ground for forage. Fence day time pastures to protect birds from predators. Lots of night time predators find turkeys delicious. Provide a fully protected and roofed coop at night, and as a daytime shelter from inclement weather.
Coops must be raked daily, disinfected monthly, to maintain a healthy flock. Small backyard producers will need to rake their yards daily to remove feces. Of course clean water should be available always. Rotate birds between pastures for the health of the pasture as well as the health of the birds.
Save a rare breed while providing food for the table, and have fun while doing it. This friendly bird will come running at feeding time. These birds will follow you around the pasture, getting under foot as they attempt to satisfy their natural curiosity. They're hardy with a lengthy, 5 to 10 year lifespan. They're ready for the table anytime after 6 months. A little older and fatter is recommended for tender, tasty meat with a nice mix of white and dark. And for a little variety, their eggs are also quite tasty.
About the Author:
If you are looking for bourbon red turkeys for sale click the link to Rusty Duck Lane in Bozeman, Montana. For details on our chickens and Nigerian Dwarf Goats, visit us at http://www.rustyducklane.com today.
This article collected, selected and written by: Author Van Hoc
Niche blogs are sometimes referred to as splogs, but this is a misnomer. Even though the desired end result for the niche blogger is to make money...
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