Board breasted white turkeys

[Glenshee]

Hi everyone,
Im trying to get hold of some board breasted white turkeys I don’t mind if they are day old or a couple of months, I have contacted Croziers but they no longer sell live birds. Has anyone managed to get hold of commercial breed turkeys or know of someone who has come crossbreeds?
Thanks

[Marina]

That's a pity that Croziers no longer sell turkey poults. They were the only commercial producer selling them.

There is the directory at www.rarebreeds.co.nz but no breeder of white turkeys is listed there. The ones you are after are difficult to breed for backyarders as they need to be artificially inseminated. The males are very heavy and need to be kept away from the food to be able to walk at all.

There are people around who have crossed the large white turkey with the bronze and this gives you a fast growing bird without the problems of the large white.

Where abouts are you? You may have to wait for another month or so and see what you can find on TradeMe.

[Glenshee]

We are in North Otago, Yep we have the Bronze but wanted to try and cross them to get a bit more meat on them sooner. Trade me may be the way to go I think.

[Blackshire]

That’s disappointing. I got two hens from them last year and used a bronze tom. Good cross breed that finished well.

Culled late last season and kept 8 poults. Unfortunately I only got a single tom, and he happened to be a buff/bronze with any BB White in him. 3 white hens that are 50/50 but that means I’m running a max 25% BB white.

[Blackshire]

I contacted Croziers as a previous buyer asking to buy more eggs/poults/adult birds but he answer is the seam, they no longer sell to hate public.

We have just processed a few turkeys yesterday and the heritage only birds are so light on!

Has anyone out there got any BBW genetics in their flock or found anyone willing to sell either eggs or poults to raise a few birds for the table?

John

[Marina]

Have a look at the breeders directory on www.rarebreeds.co.nz

Also our member tishie11 used to have turkeys. Sending her a private message might help.