Narragansetts

Last year, we raised turkeys for family and friends' Thanksgiving dinners and to stock our freezer for the winter.  To get the most bang for our buck, we ordered Broad Breasted Whites (all toms).  They arrived the third week in July.  We processed them the weekend before Thanksgiving and they were huge!  Our smallest was 28lbs and the largest was 37lbs!  While everyone raved about the flavor, we had some requests for smaller birds.  Also, my husband is not a huge fan of white birds.  He wanted something "more natural", more camouflaged.


This is a Broad Breasted Bronze tom.  Behind him, the lighter colored turkeys are Narragansetts.



So, this year, we ordered Broad Breasted Bronze (straight run) which arrived the third week of July.  These birds don't get quite as big as the BBW's, but the toms can come close.  Since we ordered straight run, we have some females who will remain smaller than the toms.  This will allow for a larger variety of sizes.

We also ordered Narragansetts (straight run).  Costly, at about $10 each as a day old poult, I decided to keep about 5 of them (3 best hens and 2 best toms) to add to our laying flock.  They can mate naturally unlike the Broad Breasted varieties.  So, hopefully next year, we will have some of our own turkey eggs to hatch.  If one of the turkey hens wants to go broody and hatch them, great.  If not, I have a few tried and true chicken hens who would be happy to do the job!  The rest of the Narragansetts will be processed with the BBB's- also adding to the variety of sizes.



Broad Breasted Bronze and Narragansett turkeys side-by-side "mid-song".



Why Narragansetts? 

• First, they are a larger heritage breed, weighing up to 17lbs for hens and up to 30lbs for toms. 

• Second, they are a cross between the Eastern Wild Turkey and another variety (probably Norfolk Blacks according to the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy).  It was a breed developed in the Narragansett Bay area of RI (officially recognized as a unique breed in 1874).  This convinced me that they are a hardy bird, able to withstand the weather here in Western MA. 

• Third, they are considered a "threatened" breed by the ALBC.  By raising them, I feel I am doing my part to help this variety continue. 

• Besides, almost every website I read stated they were known for their calm disposition, good maternal instincts, early maturation, egg production, and excellent meat quality.  Who doesn't want these desirable characteristics?  I was sold.

A beautiful, young Narragansett tom showing off his feathers.