posted 6 years ago
Assuming a work issue that could take me overseas for 6 months doesn't pan out (I'd figure 20% chance of going) I want to try raising turkeys this year. The local feed store will have heritage breed poults in April. Probably would get the Bourbon Red, if anything. I've read in some sources they're not growing quite as big as they used to. But, can anyone give a reasonable SWAG on how big they "should" be by Thanksgiving? That time frame would give them 32-33 weeks to grow out. Also, with my broiler chickens last year I got about 70% of bled out weight in dressed carcasses. Is that a similar number for a heritage turkey, or will they yield a bit less?
How many heritage turkeys should I get? I.e. what is the usual mortality rate, and since I'd probably keep them separate from the hens, how many do I need to keep them happy? I'd like to wind up with enough to feed 8-10 people (2 younger kids, 2 teens, the rest adults) on Thanksgiving, and at least 6 (same ages as before) at Christmas. If I wind up with more turkeys (because they mostly/all survive) than I want for myself I have little doubt that between family and friends I can find a freezer/oven for the excess. At this point not I'm intending to hold any over for breeding. If all goes well I might do that next year.
The Coastal Farm and Ranch will be getting broad breasted turkey poults. Unfortunately in March. I might get a couple of those just for comparison sake to the heritage breed, but with 35+ weeks to Thanksgiving I'd be need to slaughter (and freeze) long before Thanksgiving as they should be WAY too big if I let them go that long.
