Telling Narragansett poults from Bronze

[Hummingbird Hollow]

I ordered 10 Narragansett poults through my local feed store. When I went to pick them up, I discovered that an employee had, unknowingly, sold two to a customer. On a whim, I added two "Bronze" turkey poults to my 10 Narragansetts. (I put the "Bronze" in quotation marks because the feed store employee didn't know if they were Heritage Bronze or Broad Breasted Bronze. I'm assuming BBB because of the price). Anyway, once they were all in together I can't tell which is which. This wouldn't be a big deal, I could just wait until they were older to tell, but now I have someone who is offering me a trade for 2 of my Narragansett poults for a bunch of Freedom Ranger chicks, and I want to be sure I give her two Narragansetts and no BBB. Can anyone tell me how to tell them appart. I've spent some time looking at photos at the hatchery websites, but can't see any difference.

 

[ivan3]

Did you check the Cackle Hatchery site (video of employee holding day old Narri's - probably something similar for BBB's).

http://www.cacklehatchery.com/turkeypage.html#narr

 

[Hummingbird Hollow]

Yeah, I have and I can't see any difference. There are slight variations of coloring on all the poults, but nothing that says "Oh, these two are different than those eight". I should banded or marked them somehow before I put them in together. Oh well.

 

[R2elk]

Yeah, I have and I can't see any difference. There are slight variations of coloring on all the poults, but nothing that says "Oh, these two are different than those eight". I should banded or marked them somehow before I put them in together. Oh well.

The most obvious difference should be in how thick their legs are. The BBBs should have thicker, heavier legs even at a very young age.

Good luck.

 

[Hummingbird Hollow]

The most obvious difference should be in how thick their legs are. The BBBs should have thicker, heavier legs even at a very young age.

Good luck.

Thank you, that is useful information. I'll go check out their legs!

 

[WalnutHill]

Narragansett poults, male on the left, female on the right. Note the silvery color around the eyes and on the chest.

The color difference is VERY slight. Narri poults have a slight silver cast to the yellow that is missing in the bronze. But you need the right lighting to see that.

BBB poults do have broader breasts from day 1.

 

[Hummingbird Hollow]

Narragansett poults, male on the left, female on the right. Note the silvery color around the eyes and on the chest.

The color difference is VERY slight. Narri poults have a slight silver cast to the yellow that is missing in the bronze. But you need the right lighting to see that.

BBB poults do have broader breasts from day 1.

I'll go take a look and see if I can spot the BBB. I went in and looked at legs this afternoon and coudn't tell which were which. The hillarious thing was that two of the little ones dropped their wingtips down and puffed up their chests for about the count of three, like they were already trying to strut. I love baby turkeys, they are so curious and friendly.

 

[WalnutHill]

I'll go take a look and see if I can spot the BBB. I went in and looked at legs this afternoon and coudn't tell which were which. The hillarious thing was that two of the little ones dropped their wingtips down and puffed up their chests for about the count of three, like they were already trying to strut. I love baby turkeys, they are so curious and friendly.

I know...I have about 80 turkey eggs in the incubator right now, hatching April 25, April 29, and May 11. I love these little feathered dinosaurs. Chicks are cute, ducklings are adorable, but turkeys are fun!

 

[ivan3]

Narragansett poults, male on the left, female on the right. Note the silvery color around the eyes and on the chest. The color difference is VERY slight. Narri poults have a slight silver cast to the yellow that is missing in the bronze. But you need the right lighting to see that. BBB poults do have broader breasts from day 1.

I agree (though, like R2elk, legs - particularly at ankle joint - were of greater circumference than our Slates/Royals), I'd try different light sources applied from different angles so as to highlight the "highlights". If you have time to observe the poults for a couple of hours: our BBB's were never as "busy"/"flighty" as the heritage poults (which were/are something like popcorn in their exertions - winging into hardware cloth cover of brooder just because they could).

 

[Hummingbird Hollow]

OK, at about a week and a half of age I'm willing to take a gamble that I can identify at least one of the BBB from among the Narragansetts because he/she does have a pretty broad chest compared to some of the others. Funny, I also have two poults who have tried to do a mini-strut. They pull their heads up and in, push their shoulders forward and drop their little wing-tips down and puff up their chests. they can hold it for maybe the count of three. It is the cutest thing ever. Two or three babies will always run over and investigate my hands when I come to change water and bedding and I can always coax one up onto my palm. I love turkey poults!