How much does a heritage turkey cost?
between $4 and $6 per pound
The average store-bought turkey costs about $1 per pound, while heritage turkeys run between $4 and $6 per pound. These birds proportionally have much smaller breasts, darker leg meat and are generally gamier in flavor than broad-breasted whites raised on large, modern poultry farms.
Can I buy wild turkey chicks?
You can get turkey poults at your local feed store or through your local poultry association. But you might want to order them online through a hatchery.
How much can you sell a heritage turkey for?
Many small farmers sell their birds direct to customers for as much as $10 a pound, or 10 to 20 times the cost of a typical supermarket turkey. That means a heritage turkey big enough for a large Thanksgiving gathering, say 18 pounds, can run $180.
Are heritage turkeys worth the price?
They have proportionally smaller breasts, darker leg meat, and are generally gamier in flavor than industrially raised turkeys. Heritage birds are also older than conventional birds at the age of slaughter (26-28 weeks compared to 14-18 weeks), which results in sturdier meat.
Can you make money raising heritage turkeys?
Small-scale turkey farming is an excellent income source for homesteaders. They have interesting personalities and are suitable for homesteads with children.
Can turkeys and chickens live together?
One of the main ways to keep turkeys healthy is too NOT raise chickens and turkeys together. When turkeys and chickens are raised together, turkeys run a high risk of contracting the disease histomoniasis, also known as blackhead.
Can I purchase wild turkeys?
Is there any law against buying live wild turkeys inside California or outside the state and having them shipped here? Answer: There is nothing illegal about selling or purchasing domestic poultry sold as wild turkeys.
How long do heritage turkeys live?
2. Long productive outdoor lifespan: the Heritage Turkey must have a long productive lifespan. Breeding hens are commonly productive for 5-7 years and breeding toms for 3-5 years. The Heritage Turkey must also have a genetic ability to withstand the environmental rigors of outdoor production systems.
How big does a heritage turkey get?
12 to 25 lb.
Heritage turkeys range from 12 to 25 lb., and because their bones are heavier, count on 1-1/2 lb. per person compared to about 1 lb. for a conventional bird. In other words, expect a 12-lb.
How long does it take for heritage turkeys to mature?
25-30 weeks
Choosing a breed Most turkey breeds will mature between 14-22 weeks of age, which means you will need to purchase birds early in July to make sure they have enough time to grow. Heritage breeds will take a bit longer, 25-30 weeks, so those birds would need to be purchased in late May or early June.
Are heritage turkeys better?
Heritage turkeys are smaller than their commercially bred counterparts (which are all Broad Breasted Whites) and have a stronger—some say gamy—flavor. Less breast meat and more highly exercised thighs and wings mean heritage turkeys benefit from longer, slower cooking times.