Heritage Turkeys
Our Royal Palm Tom, Mr. Sparkey with Mrs. Sparkey to the left. Two of the Lavender Turkeys are in front of him free-ranging in the yard.
What is a Heritage Turkey?
A Heritage Turkey are the oldest breeds of turkeys our forefathers ate. In the 1960's, factory farms began to dominate our food production. Due to the demand of high meat breast production in a short period of time, the broad breasted whites became popular. In the 1990's, heritage breeds were near extinction. Thanks to groups such as Slow Foods USA and the American Livesock Breeds Conservancy, heritage breed turkeys are making a comeback.
Heritage Turkeys Breeds are: Bourbon Reds, Naragansett, Black, Royal Palm, Slate, Standard Bronze, Jersey Bluff, White Holland, Lavender/Lilac, Midget White, and the Beltsville Small White.
Heritage Turkeys are on the Slow Foods USA "Arc of Taste".
Turkeys with the guineas
One of our Lavender turkey hens foraging through leaves. The Lavenders are listed as critical on the American Livestock Conservancy Priority List.