Is it normal for Turkens to be this large at 4 weeks?

[SuspiciousChick]

I am following this thread because I just got four turkens from tractor supply and they are the same size as the chicks I got from our local feed store, different hatchery. Mine are all black and so far are the same size. Did yours start out the same size?

Both of my Turkens started out the same size. Then grew bigger and bigger than the others...

 

[Draya]

They are one week old now, so I will see if that happens with my birds too.
You mentioned you were concerned your birds might have been cross bread, but I’m not seeing any yellow coloring on mine so maybe that’s the difference? TBD

 

[Toasty525]

I have the same question. 3.5 weeks ago I got them. They are huge. What’s wierd is the turkens our TSC have been getting also have ones that don’t have naked necks. They look like meat birds but labeled turkens. Are they trying to make turken meat birds??

 

[Toasty525]

I saw this posted somewhere today. Could be???

 

[SuspiciousChick]

I have the same question. 3.5 weeks ago I got them. They are huge. What’s wierd is the turkens our TSC have been getting also have ones that don’t have naked necks. They look like meat birds but labeled turkens. Are they trying to make turken meat birds??
View attachment 4099670View attachment 4099674

Your Turkens look EXACTLY like mine! Mine are about the same age as yours too. My guess is like yours, meat-Turkens. Man, I really hope they won't develop leg or heart issues as they grow.

 

[SuspiciousChick]

They are one week old now, so I will see if that happens with my birds too.
You mentioned you were concerned your birds might have been cross bread, but I’m not seeing any yellow coloring on mine so maybe that’s the difference? TBD

I'd love to know how yours grow! Mine started out as fuzzy little puffballs but have been losing their yellowness as their white feathers have been coming in

 

[SuspiciousChick]

I saw this posted somewhere today. Could be???View attachment 4099681

Perhaps this is it!

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

Hoover’s doesn’t list Turken meat birds on their site but maybe Tractor Supply gets chicks from another hatchery. It makes sense that someone would breed them to eat because I think that was one of the original selling points with them-fewer feathers to pluck. So they have always been dual purpose but it is weird they aren’t being labeled as a different breed because they’re just another hybrid in the long list of hatchery-developed hybrids and those all go by their fancy names (Prairie Bluebell Eggers, Midnight Majesty Marans, etc).

 

[Draya]

Here they are at one week old. Not the greatest picture, but you can see mine are black and are the same size as the other chicks so far. I had not noticed the little yellow underneath before so maybe things will change.

 

[SuspiciousChick]

Hoover’s doesn’t list Turken meat birds on their site but maybe Tractor Supply gets chicks from another hatchery. It makes sense that someone would breed them to eat because I think that was one of the original selling points with them-fewer feathers to pluck. So they have always been dual purpose but it is weird they aren’t being labeled as a different breed because they’re just another hybrid in the long list of hatchery-developed hybrids and those all go by their fancy names (Prairie Bluebell Eggers, Midnight Majesty Marans, etc).

This makes a lot of sense!