Rare Heritage Turkeys.....

ABOUT THE BLACK SPANISH TURKEY

According to what I have read from several reliable sources, the Black turkey originated in Europe from the Mexican turkeys carried home with explorers in the 1500s. The Black colored turkeys gained popularity in Spain where they were known as "Black Spanish", and in England, they were particularly popular in the Norfolk region and thus were dubbed "Norfolk Blacks". After initial selection for meat production for more than two centuries, the Black Spanish turkey made its voyage back to North America with the early European colonists. At that time, they were often crossed with the Eastern wild turkeys - which became our foundation for the Black turkey in this country.

Like all rare heritage breed of turkey, the Black Spanish is in need of more stewards. If you are interested in raising turkeys, won't you consider this stunningly beautiful rare bird?

American Livestock Breeds Conservancy Status: Critical.

Below are some photos of our birds taken at our farm. These photos are property of CBF Super Quail and may NOT be used without permission. Thank you.

                           

A day-old poult, a young grower just turned outside. Below: a mature hen and a mature tom.     

                               


S  T  A  T  I  S  T  I  C  S

Incubation period: 28

Humidity for incubator: 50-55%

Move to hatcher/stop turning: 25

Matures at: Birds will be ready to butcher at around 6-8 months of age, they are considered mature at 9 months. Hens start to lay the first spring after they were hatched. Turkeys may live as long as 10 years!

Benefits of raising: Beautiful and self-propagating, these more natural ancestors of modern production turkeys are more laid back and enjoyable than their commercial counterparts. They are a slow growing variety and the wait is worth it . . . they make a lovely holiday bird for your table.

MY OPINION: For all the things I've ever heard all my life about "stupid turkeys" -- MINE AREN'T. They get out of the rain, if given an option. They have personality and are far from being "dumb livestock". Our Heritage Turkeys need more people dedicated to their care and well-being. Won't you consider adding them to your farm?

Size/Weight: Hens up to 18 lbs and Toms up to 27 lbs.

Sexing: At one day old most toms will show a somewhat larger and round snood. Hens will have a shield or triangular shaped snood attached close to the forehead, which appears to be pasted back. THIS MAY NOT BE EFFECTIVE FOR SEXING POULTS.

Look at the stool. The stool of the Jake or Tom will be shaped like a "J" while the hen has a spiral or conch-shell shaped stool.

After several months, the snood will expand and contract on Toms.

Beards! Hens do not normally have beards and in the unusual case that does, it does not grow in until the second year. Toms develop beards first.

The most sure way: if it lays an egg, it is a hen. (Not to be a smarty-feathers....but it's true.)

Some hens will strut, most outgrow the habit although one of our Royal Palm ladies is known to strut her stuff!

Space/pen requirements:  As much as you can afford them, 17-20 square foot per bird is about right. 5 or 6 adults in a 10x10 pen will be fine, they will appreciate being turned out into a field to free-range if you have the room. (NOTE; Do not turn them out on a lawn that has been sprayed!) Their pen should drain well as the turkeys will not be very healthy if they are left to stand in wet soil. The smaller the pen, the more maintenance and frequent cleaning it will require. For best health, do not mix Turkeys in the same pen with chickens or other species of poultry or gamebirds.

Breeding Ratio: One Tom can comfortably service up to ten hens. I recommend, however, keeping at least two Toms at all times, in case something should happen to one, you aren't without breeding capabilities. Some hens will prefer to be bred by a specific tom ONLY, so do keep a close eye on which toms are mating which hens.

Special Needs: For poults, a 98 degree brooder, decrease by 2 degrees weekly until poults are at room temp. is best.

Turkeys prefer to be outside but need a place to get out of the wind, rain, snow and have fresh, dry feed available. They prefer to stay dry and out of drafts, and would enjoy an area to roost. It doesn't have to be exceptionally high, but they would prefer it and it will help keep them clean.

Nesting: Good luck. They will nest/lay wherever you would least prefer, our Slate Blue hen likes to lay beneath a shelter made out of an old dog crate. Our Black Spanish ladies like to lay under their shelter, but at least one has a thing for laying her egg just wherever she may like. Our Royal Palms have been the most finicky. If we think it looks attractive, they will scratch all the bedding from it and tell us that they hate it, and find the most inconvenient place to lay their egg instead. Listen to your birds. Try a variety of shapes, sizes, locations, bedding substances.... again, good luck!

Feed: Many start their birds on gamebird starter (I think non-medicated is BEST - I don't believe in drugging your birds to compensate for a poor cleaning regimen or bacteria-laden equipment, overcrowding, etc.) You want at the very least 26% protein, but 28% would be better if you can find it. Some breeders switch the feed to about 20-22% protein after the poults are two months, but we feed them our 26% gamebird starter crumble throughout their lives, as we do all of our poultry.

A turkey hen will lay an egg every other day, from March through August or September. If eggs are collected daily, the hens will keep laying. If they have a nest full, they will most likely go broody and stop laying.


AVAILABILITY OF BLACK SPANISH TURKEY FROM CBF SUPER QUAIL:

Hatching Eggs are available for $5 per egg, up to 10 eggs can be shipped for $15.00. Shipping is USPS Priority Mail. Egg orders are limited to 10 eggs per customer per order for the 2007 or until further notice.

Day-old Poults: Very limited supply for 2007 (order early if interested), we will ship 10 Poults via Express Mail for $150.00. Larger quantities are not available at this time.

Growers, straight run, will be $25.00 each and are subject to availability.

Sub-mature Jakes: $30.00. Sub-mature Hens, $50.00

Mature toms: $40.00. Mature Hens, $70.00.

Dressed Bird, app. 9-13 lbs., $50.00. Larger birds may be available in October-December of 2007.



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