Best turkey breeds for backyard meat?
Choosing the right turkey breed is crucial for backyard meat production. Different breeds vary significantly in growth rate, mature size, feed efficiency, temperament, and hardiness. Selecting a breed that matches your space, climate, and experience level is important for success. This is a common question for beginners.
- Bourbon Red5
Raise Bourbon Red turkeys for flavorful heritage meat and natural flock sustainability. Toms reach 18-23 lbs and hens 12-14 lbs in 24-28 weeks. Developed in Bourbon County, Kentucky in the late 1800s, this breed is recognized by the American Poultry Association and classified as watch-status by The…
📌 traditional📌 homegrown4/16/2025, 10:19:47 PM
🛠️ Coop with roost bars, feeder, waterer, fenced pasture (6-ft fencing recommended), game bird starter feed, grower feed
- Broad Breasted White4
Choose Broad Breasted White turkeys for maximum meat yield in the shortest time. Toms reach 38-45 lbs and hens 20-25 lbs in 16-20 weeks on a 28% protein starter transitioning to 20% grower feed. This breed accounts for roughly 99% of commercial turkey production in the United States due to its…
📌 commercial4/16/2025, 10:19:47 PM
🛠️ Enclosed coop (5 sq ft/bird), commercial feeder, waterer, high-protein feed (28% starter, 20% grower), heat lamps for brooding
- Broad Breasted Bronze4
Choose Broad Breasted Bronze turkeys for high meat yield with distinctive bronze plumage. Toms reach 35-45 lbs and hens 20-25 lbs within 16-20 weeks. This breed matches the Broad Breasted White in growth rate and feed conversion but produces darker pin feathers, which can leave pigment spots on the…
📌 commercial4/16/2025, 10:19:47 PM
🛠️ Enclosed coop (5 sq ft/bird), commercial feeder, waterer, high-protein feed (28% starter, 20% grower), heat lamps for brooding
- Standard Bronze4
Raise Standard Bronze turkeys as a hardy heritage breed suited for pasture-based meat production. Toms mature to 20-25 lbs and hens to 12-16 lbs over 24-28 weeks. This breed predates the Broad Breasted varieties and was the dominant American farm turkey from the 1700s through the mid-1900s. It is…
📌 traditional📌 homegrown4/16/2025, 10:19:47 PM
🛠️ Coop with roost bars, feeder, waterer, fenced pasture or range area, game bird starter feed (28% protein), grower feed (20% protein)
- Narragansett4
Raise Narragansett turkeys to combine heritage meat quality with breed conservation. Toms reach 18-23 lbs and hens 12-16 lbs over 24-28 weeks. Developed in Rhode Island in the 1700s from crosses between domestic turkeys and wild Eastern turkeys, this breed is classified as threatened by The…
📌 traditional📌 homegrown4/16/2025, 10:19:47 PM
🛠️ Coop with roost bars, feeder, waterer, fenced pasture or range area, game bird starter feed (28% protein), grower feed (20% protein)
- White Holland4
Raise White Holland turkeys as a heritage breed that bridges the gap between heritage flavor and commercial presentation. Toms reach 20-25 lbs and hens 14-18 lbs in 20-24 weeks. Originating from white-feathered sports of heritage breeds and refined in Holland before arriving in America in the…
📌 traditional📌 homegrown4/16/2025, 10:19:47 PM
🛠️ Coop with roost bars, feeder, waterer, fenced pasture or range area, game bird starter feed (28% protein), grower feed (20% protein)