1999 SPPA Turkey Census Report

Submitted by Paula Johnson
Las Cruces, NM

Bronze Turkeys c. 1860
from Old Poultry Breeds, Fred Hams, Shire Pulblications Ltd., 1978

Since writing this report last spring, I have been in contact with some of the breeders of Heritage turkeys and they have had a multitude of problems. A barn roof collapsed and killed most of one breederŐs poults, and another breeder had most of his poults stolen. Other flock owners have experienced outbreaks of dry and wet types of Fowl Pox, Blackhead and other diseases even though these diseases havenŐt been seen in their area for 15 or more years. Inbreeding has crept into some of the varieties, necessitating controlled outcrossing to salvage vanishing bloodlines. These types of losses make it a real struggle to establish and carry on the rarer varieties of turkeys. I hope that this report enables those who are interested in preventing genetic erosion to see a larger picture of the situation and thus improve decisions concerning the breeding and disposal of Heritage Turkeys. (The following article is a condensed version of the second annual Turkey Census Report sponsored by the Society for Preservation of Poultry Antiquities. If you would like a complete copy with breeders and their address for each variety please send a check for $5.00 written out to the SPPA and send it to Paula Johnson, Turkey Census Coordinator at 2442 Mayfield Ln., Las Cruces, NM, 88005).

The Historical Farm turkey is the domesticated turkey that was raised and produced by the majority of farms in North America prior to 1950. These turkeys have desirable inherited traits associated with historical farming such as the ability to mate naturally without needing artificial insemination. This breed of turkey has many varieties in an assortment of sizes and colors. The Historical Farm turkey is not the modern commercial Broad Breasted White turkey that we buy at the grocery stores ready to cook. The Heritage Farm turkey is a separate breed whose distinct qualities have caused it to fall out of favor by the big commercial producers. Although the information gathered is not from a complete listing of everyone who breeds turkeys in the United States or Canada, I believe it gives an accurate snapshot of the current situation with breeders who still breed the Heritage type turkey. I did not survey the large breeders of Broad Breasted turkeys.

There were 2662 female and 726 male Historical turkeys recorded this year, for a total of 3388 breeding Historical farm turkeys. This is an increase from last year of 378 more females and 117 more males. For captive breeding Wilds a total of 660 females and 249 males were listed bring the total to 909. This is approximately the same as what was found in Wilds last year with only 4 more hens and a decrease of 19 toms. This gives us a total of 4297 non-broad-breasted turkeys, of which 909 (21%) are wilds. The percentage of Wilds decreased from 24% last year.

The average flock was made up of 41 birds with 30% being males. This is the same as last year. There were 62 breeders who kept 10 or more turkeys for breeding, up from 52 for last year, and 11 breeders who normally kept 100 or more turkeys (males and females) for breeding. One breeder, the University of Wisconsin, had to be dropped from the ŇprimaryÓ breeder's list because they only had 37 breeding White Midgets this year instead of the usual 100 females they have kept in the past. Within the 11 breeders who kept 100 or more breeding turkeys, 4 raised only wild type turkeys.

When we compare the total number of females of all Historical Farm turkey varieties together (including crosses, but not including the wild females) against the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy conservation standards, then they fall slightly above the cut-off for being "rare." This year there were 2,662 females with 7 primary breeding flocks. If each variety is taken separately and compared to the standard, then they all fall below the "critical" level.

The most numerous variety is still the Bourbon Red with 834 breeding females in 4 primary flocks. The Royal Palm follows, with 624 females in 2 primary flocks. Bronze turkeys had 312 breeding females with 1 primary flock. Next come the Spanish Blacks, having 192 females and 1 primary flock. White Midgets had to be dropped this year from being the 5th numerous and thus moves Slates into 5th place with 122 breeding females and the largest breeding flock consisting of 50 hens. All of the other 22 varieties found had less than 75 females each, some with only 1 bird left. Listed in alphabetical order, the following names are the "primary" breeders having 100 or more hens of any variety of Historical Farm turkeys:

1. Cackle Hatchery breeding 20% of the Historical Farm turkeys consisting of Bourbon Reds, Royal Palms, Blacks and Slates

2. Frank Robert Reese, Jr., breeding 4% of the Historical Farm turkeys consisting of Bronze, Bourbon Red, Blacks, Narragansett and Slates. New to the list, BobŐs numbers were over 100 breeders this year.

3. Glenn Drowns breeding 5% of the Historical Farm turkeys consisting of about 15 different varieties.

4. Inman Hatchery breeding 5% of the Historical Farm turkeys consisting of Bourbon Reds.

5. Privett Hatchery breeding 13% of the Historical Farm turkeys consisting of Bourbon Reds and Royal Palms.

6. Shanks Hatchery breeding 3% of the Historical Farm turkeys consisting of Bourbon Reds.

7. Wish Poultry breeding 5% of the Historical Farm turkeys consisting of Wishard Bronze turkeys.

This adds up to 55%of the Historical Farm turkeys being raised by 7 hatcheries, down from 63% for last year. The other 45% is being raised by small hatcheries and backyard breeders. The goal here would be to add many more primary turkey breeders that have approximately 30 to 40% of the breeding turkeys and the smaller farmers making up the rest of the percentage with flocks numbering between 25 and 100 breeding turkeys.

Bronze Colored Turkeys:

Standard Bronze (do not require artificial insemination to obtain fertile eggs):

A total of 335 non-broad-breasted females were found, and 106 non-broad-breasted toms were found. This is an increase of 54 hens and 24 toms from last yearŐs census. They remain the third most numerous variety of Historical turkeys. If you raise Historical Bronzes, please do not stop raising them to start breeding another variety that is less numerous! More breeders are needed. Three named strains were found: Wishard comprised 50% of the Historical bronze; Kardosh yielded 12% of the bronzes, up from 7% last year; Pawlet Vermont comprised only 1% this year, down from 3% last year because he lost some hens; and unknown strains finished out with 35% of the Historical bronzes, up from 20% for last year.

White Colored Turkeys (only the Broad Breasted White requires artificial insemination for fertile eggs):

WHITE COLORED HERITAGE TURKEYS NEED MORE BREEDERS TO KEEP THEIR NUMBERS UP. ONLY TWO WHITE VARIETIES REMAIN THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO SMALL FARMERS!

Beltsville Small White:

Only two flocks have been located, one in the U.S. and one in Canada. The U.S. flock is owned by the government and has been housed within a biologically controlled building. They have not been exposed to any common environmental germs or diseases since 1961 and may not be able to survive in a normal farm setting. The Canadian flock is similar in that it is not available to anyone other than the educational facility that owns them. I have been told that the Canadian flock has hens that lay fertile eggs even when no toms have mated with them, producing all male offspring. When toms are mated with the hens the 50/50 sex ratio occurs as normal. All of the turkeys listed in breeder catalogs as Beltsville Whites can be traced back to the University of Wisconsin which has White Midgets.

Mini Whites:

This very small turkey was originally bred by mating the smallest Black, Bourbon Red and Bronze turkeys together. They weighed approximately 9 pounds for toms and 6 pounds for hens. The last known flock went to auction in Texas about 1993. None are known to exist.

White Holland:

The present number of White Hollands is a total of 19 hens and 9 toms. This is down from 22 hens and 16 toms for last year. This is a red flag for all of us to try and get the numbers up for the White Holland. Only 5 breeders are listed having this variety. The largest flock has 10 hens.

White Midget:

A total of 58 hens and 26 toms were found this year, which is a drastic drop from the 119 hens and 42 toms listed last year. That is a decrease in breeders by half. When one breeder has a majority of a certain variety, drastic changes can occur very quickly. The White Midget is disappearing right before our very eyes. If you raise White Midgets, please do not stop breeding them to raise another variety.

Assorted Colored Turkeys (do not require artificial insemination for fertile eggs):

Auburn or Light Brown:

Only 5 hens and 4 toms were found this year. This is a drastic decline from the 17 hens and 10 toms, which were found last year. The largest flock has 4 hens and 2 toms. This is another variety that is disappearing right before our eyes. Due to its sex linked abilities this is one variety that is very important to keep.

Silver Auburn:

Just 8 hens and 3 toms were found this year, which is down from the 11 hens and 8 toms of last year. If you want to put the Silver Auburn and the Auburn numbers together then we have just 13 hens and 7 toms left

Black (Spanish or Norfolk):

The census resulted with 192 females and 53 males, an increase over last yearŐs numbers of 164 females and 47 males. The Blacks made up 7% of the Historical Farm turkeys. Only one hatchery had over 100 females with 105 hens and 15 toms. The next largest flock has 20 females. The Blacks number 4th in rank of the varieties with the most individual turkeys. If you raise Blacks, please do not drop them to raise another variety! We do not have enough breeders.

Bourbon Red:

The Bourbon makes up 31% of the Historical Farm turkeys. This year's survey found 834 hens and 158 toms, compared to 782 females and 149 males recorded last year. There were 4 breeders with more than 100 females. Two of these breeders had 200 females each. This is encouraging, but they still fall below the critical list as put out by the ALBC. If you are a breeder of Bourbon Reds, please do not get rid of your Bourbons to breed a rarer variety. If you can add a new variety that is great! However, this study is not meant to reverse the current trend in Historical turkey breeding

Buff:

The survey turned up 68 hens and 22 toms which is an increase of 45 hens and 17 toms from last year's census. There are 6 breeders, with the largest flock having 20 hens this past spring.

Chocolate:

The Chocolate is very rare with only 9 hens and 4 toms.

Crimson Dawn:

Only a few hens are known to exist on one farm. This is a variety that disappeared. A sliver of hope remains of perhaps having this type again.

Lavender:

A breeding pair was found this year.

Lilac:

Just 20 hens and 11 toms were listed, which is an increase of 7 hens from last year. The largest flock has 9 hens.

Narragansett:

A total of 66 hens and 28 toms were found amongst 13 breeders. This is an increase of 1 Narragansett breeder and 6 hens and 1 tom from last year. The 2 largest flocks each have 15 hens apiece. A breeder in Canada listed Silver Narragansetts on the census form.

Nebraskan:

A total of 7 hens (1 is blue) and 5 toms were listed by two breeders. This is a decrease of 3 hens and an increase of 1 tom. More breeders are needed to prevent this type from disappearing before our eyes.

Red:

These are solid red turkeys with no white anywhere on their bodies. Varieties like this were mentioned at times in historical writings and at times called Regal Red. A single pair was found.

Royal Palm:

There were some Blue Palms recorded on the census, with 42 breeders listing a total of 794 Royal Palms. The sexes numbered out at 624 hens, up from 589 females last year. The toms came in at 158, an increase of 30 toms from last year. The number of Royal Palm breeders increased by 9, but most of these breeders had only 2 hens and a tom. Two new breeders had enough breeding Palms to add to the Breeders List. If you raise Royal Palms, please do not stop breeding them to start breeding another less numerous variety. The purpose of this survey is not to reverse the present Historical turkey breeding trend.

Slate or Blue Slate:

The survey found 108 females and 30 toms, among twelve breeders, which is the same as last year except for 5 less toms this year. The largest flock has 50 hens.

Other Colored Varieties:

The following is a list of varieties with brief descriptions. All need more breeders.

Chestnut: Just 1 tom was found.

Dark Brown: This turkey has a plumage pattern like the Bronze, but the black is replaced with dark brown. They look like a Chocolate with barring. A total of 9 hens and 3 toms were found.

Fawn: Remember that Fawn is produced by Lilacs and will breed true. Only one was found.

Nutmeg: They are nutmeg colored with white wings and tail. A pair was found.

Oregon Gray: The last known pair died this past year. None are known to exist.

Sweetgrass: A multicolored turkey that appeared recently in a bronze colored flock and is being studied at this time.

Wisconsin: A variety obtained in Wisconsin with 3 hens and 2 toms being listed.

Crosses: There were 68 hens and 22 toms that were crosses. Last year most of the crosses were with wilds. However, this year a breeder was found that had many crosses of the domesticated kinds such as Lilac x Slate, Royal Palm x Lilac, Black x Lilac. Other breeders had Wilds x Royal Palms, Wilds x Bronzes, Bourbon Reds x Royal Palms (which will eventually produce Red Palms), and Slate x Bourbon Red. Some of these are accidents, while others are done on purpose. Turkey genetics is very interesting and I'm sure that there are colors, sizes, patterns, etc. that have not yet been discovered.

To summarize this year's heritage turkey census, the overall count is up by almost 500 birds. Most of the increase occurred with the Bourbon Reds and Royal Palms. I believe that the increase in numbers is due to finding additional breeders that were missed last year as well as some new beginning backyard breeders having acquired breeding stock. However, the white colored turkeys had about a 50% loss, which needs to be reversed for next year, and at east brought back to the numbers that were present last year. Even though all types of naturally mating turkeys have declined drastically since the 1950's, and are all considered "Critical" compared to the ALBC conservation standard, some varieties are more critical than others.

Semi-rare: Varieties that can still be purchased fairly easily and occasionally appear at swap meets and auctions: Bourbon Red and Royal Palm.

Rare: Types are a little harder to purchase and are not as common, but still occasionally appear at swap meets and auctions: non-broad breasted Bronze, Black, and Blue Slate.

Very Rare: Breeders are difficult to find and birds have not been seen at a swap meet or at an auction in a good while: Buff, Narragansett, and White Midget.

Extremely Rare: Serious searching must be done to find a breeder, if one still exists, and even then stock can be very difficult to obtain: Auburn and Silver Auburn, Beltsville Small White, Chestnut, Chocolate, Claybank, Crimson Dawn, Dark Brown, Lavender, Lilac, Nebraskan, Nutmeg, Oregon Gray, Royal Nebraskan, White Holland and others.

Editor's Note: If ten percent of the SPPA membership added a pen of heritage turkeys to their current poultry collection, they could provide tremendous impact on turkey conservation. With hopes that the effort of an amateur is better than no effort at all, your editor intends to rear some poults this summer. Watch for future turkey culture articles in the Bulletin.