How easy is it to breed turkeys?

[calliescluckers]

I have a question regarding breeding turkeys.


I have been told that some breeds can not reproduce because the toms get too heavy to "get the job done". I have a few Orlopp bronze turkeys from a hatchery, and i have some black and slate eggs in my incubator.

I would love to keep a breeding trio out of whatever I end up with... are all of these good to breed with or what do you experienced turkey people think?

 

[calliescluckers]

anyone?

 

[cracked egg]

I have a question regarding breeding turkeys.


I have been told that some breeds can not reproduce because the toms get too heavy to "get the job done". I have a few Orlopp bronze turkeys from a hatchery, and i have some black and slate eggs in my incubator. 

I would love to keep a breeding trio out of whatever I end up with... are all of these good to breed with or what do you experienced turkey people think?

The broad breasted turkeys have to be artificially inseminated. The heritage breeds do not(BR,RP,Bronze,Sweetgrass,MW,Slate,Lilac,Black etc) I am not familiar with the Orlopp,if it can't fly,run fast or roost high its not a heritage.
If the Orlopp is a hen than from what I understand it can breed from a heritage tom. In my opinion I wouldn't. There is such a big difference between the heritage and commercial turkeys almost like comparing a hippo to a gazelle.

 

[calliescluckers]

what kind of differences... other than the obvious size, etc... like temperament wise too?

 

[cracked egg]

I would be concerned about the weight of the bird crushing eggs getting on and off the nest. I have never had a commercial variety,the neighbors have had them and from watching them its as if all their natural instincts are gone.
My birds are friendly but act more wild then tame some days. Three of my hens have nests I cannot find. In late June they will bring their poults back to join the ones that did not leave the place. The heritage birds can be very self sufficient and show a lot of wild turkey traits when allowed to do so.
We free range most of the time so the heritage birds work for us where a commercial variety would perish.

 

[calliescluckers]

wow that sounds pretty awesome! wish i had the setup to let a bunch of turkeys free range and live wild!

 

[ivan3]

Our neighbor's Broad Breasted Bronze hen hatched two clutches of poults from successful mating with their Bourbon tom (third year she was killed by a coon on her nest). She waddled, rather than walked. Orlopps are Broad Breasted Bronze variety.

Our BBB was more passive than our heritage are, but that was about the main difference (they really do try to behave like a `real' turkey but all that breeding for meat does in their efforts).

 

[calliescluckers]

thanks. thats what I'm told. i could keep an orlopp hen or two, but breed them with a black or slate tom...

 

[cracked egg]

Its good to see someone has done it before and your concerns were answered. Have fun with them they are a awesome bird. I prefer my turkeys while the little lady likes the chickens.