Heritage Breeds (Bourbon Red, Narragansett, Bronze, etc.)

Process heritage turkey breeds between 24 and 28 weeks of age. Bourbon Reds, Narragansetts, Standard Bronze, and similar heritage varieties grow more slowly than commercial strains, with hens reaching 12-16 lbs and toms reaching 18-25 lbs live weight within this window.

Why It Works

Heritage breeds develop muscle at a natural pace and need more time to reach full body composition. Processing at 24-28 weeks allows adequate fat deposition between muscle fibers, producing the richer flavor heritage turkeys are known for. Earlier processing yields undersized, lean carcasses that lack characteristic taste.

Tips

• Bourbon Reds and Narragansetts typically finish at 24-26 weeks, while Standard Bronze may benefit from the full 28 weeks
• Heritage toms rarely exceed 25 lbs live weight regardless of additional growing time, so extending beyond 28 weeks wastes feed
• Some producers process heritage hens at 22 weeks for smaller 10-12 lb birds suited to small households