Broiler Chickens and Turkeys (Broad Breasted and Heritage)

Heritage Turkeys from the Past

Turkeys and broiler chickens are very transient visitors to the ranch. At 6.30am the local Post Office in Key Center phone to advise us that our "babies" have arrived and after 2 days travelling, the new arrivals are housed, fed and watered in our brooder pens. We raise Heritage Turkeys and Broad Breasted Turkeys as well as Cornish Cross Chickens (fast and slow growers). During the winter months we will not raise the fast growers as they don't grow a feather covering as fast as they grow.  They remind me of sumo wrestlers (no offence to any sumo wrestlers reading this). They eat, squat, walk three steps then squat again. With no quality of life, I will NOT consider raising them during the cold winter months. This year we will consider growing the slow growers if their quality of life can be raised. Last year we did not raise the Heritage turkeys as we considered the economic impact to our customers. Chicks cost around $10 and the birds only make about 15 lb. Selling a 15-16 lb bird for $50-$70 seemed to be out of the question even when we just covered our costs. This year, due to popular demand, despite my concern of the economic situation, we are raising heritage turkeys to order. If you would like to order a broad breasted turkey, please call to reserve your bird. We will have extra broad breasted turkeys for Thanksgiving and Christmas late orders. Broiler chickens will be available until at least late fall and if we can solve the issue of housing for the winter so we can improve their quality of life, we will have chickens available year round. Call and check for availability.

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Bran & Sumos