The Bourbon Red is a rare heritage breed. However, its important to keep them in a safe and secure area to protect them from predators. They are excellent foragers, can fly and roost, and are extremely gentle and kind. (vitag.Init = window.vitag.Init || []).push(function () { viAPItag.display("vi_1472596215") }),
After 16 weeks of age, we suggest turkey finisher feed (16%). [9]:454[2] It was initially called the Kentucky Red or Bourbon Butternut, but became better known once the name Bourbon Red was adopted. Make sure their housing and outdoor area are large enough to accommodate their size and number. Best Free-Range Turkey: DArtagnan Organic Turkey. Would you like to correct it? Meet 'Tyson' - The Biggest Turkey Ever Recorded (as Big as a Baby Rhino) Enter your name, email address and your question or message and click. Turkeys are easy to butcher. Bourbon Red Turkeys are a medium-sized breed, with mature males weighing between 25 and 33 pounds and mature females weighing between 12 and 16 pounds. Thirdly, the housing should have proper bedding. When you say mature weight is that live or dressed weight? If raising turkeys for eggs, provide nesting boxes with clean bedding and fresh hay. Once your poults are 8 weeks old, transition them to a good flock raiser with 20% protein, but high-calorie content. [1], To meet perceived consumer demand and increase producers' profit margins, the goal in turkey farming became the production of the maximum amount of breast meat at the lowest possible cost. Its best to supply your poults with a 30% protein starter until your poults reach 8 weeks of age. Bourbon Red Turkeys are vulnerable to predators such as foxes, coyotes, raccoons, and birds of prey. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. When selecting Bourbon Red turkey chicks, make sure they are healthy, active, and free from deformities. Sometimes a hen might lay a few eggs in the fall before winter begins but will stop production for cold winter days. A post shared by Tanya Klocker (@raffieandfriends_bybfg). Socialisation will also take place as they learn to recognize their family and friends. The table below shows availability for the next several weeks. Hatching turkey poults are housed in a curved-cornered brooder with a heat lamp. Black Turkey: Great Meat Producers for Small Farm, How to Butcher a Turkey For the Freezer or Thanksgiving, About Midget White Turkeys: Unusually Small, but Charming Birds, About White Holland Turkeys: A Rapidly Declining Heritage Variety, Beginners Guide to Raising Turkeys in Your Backyard for Meat and Profit, 12 Odd Tips on Raising Heritage Breed Turkeys You Need to Know, About Royal Palm Turkeys: Not All Turkeys Are Just for Meat, About Narragansett Turkeys: An Older And Showier Turkey Variety, Turkey Anatomy: Revealing the Mysteries of Snood, Caruncle, Wattle, and More. In the early 21st century, total population of the Bourbon Red turkey began to recover. If possible, allowing the turkeys to free-range can provide them with additional nutrition and exercise. Lastly, providing a sheltered outdoor area for the turkeys to roam and forage can be beneficial for their health and well-being. adElemSticky.style.height = rect.height + 'px';
Your turkey could be bigger than your dog! Its important to change the water regularly to prevent contamination. As a general rule turkeys tend to dress at 75-80% of their body weight. So, they have a one-of-a-kind flavor that turkey lovers rave about. Heritage breeds will take 24 weeks or more and have a less meaty carcass, but more flavor. How long do bourbon red turkeys lay eggs? Bourbon Red Turkeys can tolerate temperatures ranging from below freezing to over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, but they prefer temperatures between 60 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. The heritage qualities of Bourbon Red Turkeys make them an excellent choice for many homesteaders. Bourbon Red turkeys mate during the breeding season, which occurs in late winter or early spring. Despite increasing interest in heritage turkeys, they are still a tiny minority, perhaps 25,000 raised annually compared to more than 200,000,000 industrial turkeys and 7,000,000 turkeys in the wild, and most heritage breeds are endangered in some respect. var _footer = document.querySelector("#colophon"); In general, males are a small group, which is why many people prefer to raise females exclusively. It was accepted into the Standard of Perfection of the American Poultry Association in 1909, and in the early twentieth century was an important commercial meat breed until the Broad Breasted White began to dominate industrial production. adElem.style.opacity = '0'; While they are docile and a joy to have on the farm, they also tend to nest in awkward or inconvenient spaces. Chickens come into production at 19 to 20 weeks, while turkeys require 32 weeks. A census conducted by the Conservancy found less than 1,500 total breeding birds (out of all heritage varieties) were left in the country. Fully grown hens weigh approximately 18 pounds. var adElemSticky = document.getElementById('vi-sticky-ad'); What is the average price of a Bourbon Red Turkey? They are also known for their calm temperament and excellent meat quality. How long can a Bourbon Red turkey live? A female turkey lays a clutch of eggs and incubates them after 28 days, when she is ready to hatch. They require a high-protein diet, which can include grains, legumes, and insects. Here are a few tips on how to raise bourbon red turkeys: 1. It is also listed in a list of endangered American foods. They are separated for disease control. How long does the Red Bourbon take to mature? Body feathers on the toms may be edged in black. What is the incubation period for Bourbon Red Turkey eggs? The breed was nearly extinct by the mid-20th century, but it has been revived in recent years by small farmers and hobbyists. One man in particular, Frank Reese Jr., has been credited by sources such as ABC News and The New York Times as being instrumental in preserving heritage breeds,[2][5] but small farmers all across the country were also important; strains of heritage turkey kept in genetic isolation for years by family farms preserved heritage breeds for the future. They are made up of a high-quality meat and egg bird. Turkeys like to perch and roost, especially at night. [6], In addition to a difference in culinary characteristics, heritage turkeys are often considered to be a more healthful food; as a result of the diet of pasture-raised turkeys, heritage meat contains far higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids, which help prevent heart disease. Are Bourbon Red Turkeys good for egg-laying? Most people have their broad breasted turkeys butchered between 18 and 20 weeks of age. Your email address will not be published. The average clutch size for a bourbon red turkey is 10-12 eggs, and the incubation period is 28 days. I currently have Blue Slate hen that is 10 years old and her daughter that is 9 years old. | Privacy Policy

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