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TURKEY |
Products |
Back Forty Acres raises several breeds of turkey to cater to your tastes and interests. |
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Broad Breasted White
Stephanie Doll admires the turkeys |
We raise Broad Breasted White Turkeys in our Portable Pasture Poultry Pens. In contrast to many industrial producers, ours are raised naturally and humanely. They enjoy the sunshine and fresh air while grazing on insects and grass. We supplement their diet with our natural grain feed. In the pens, they are safe from predators. These birds have ranged 12-26 lbs. If you have a preference on size, let us know and we’ll do our best to accommodate. We are doing two batches of these birds in 2008: September and November in time for Thanksgiving. |
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Blue Slate
Heritage Breed |
The Slate or Blue Slate variety is named for its color, which is solid to ashy blue over the entire body, with or without a few black flecks. It is also called the Blue or Lavender turkey. References to the Slate variety appeared in the 1800s. The ALBC lists it as a watched breed, with fewer than 5000 breeding birds in the US. The Slate turkey is listed on the Slow Food USA Ark of Taste. (See our Inspirations section for further information.) These birds will spend a longer time in our Portable Pasture Poultry Pens as they require more time to develop to full size. They are expected to be slightly smaller on average than our Broad Breasted Whites, but time will tell. In any case, they will be worth the wait! |
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Bourbon Red
Heritage Breed |
Bourbon Reds are an American variety developed in the late 1800s. They had their beginnings in Pennsylvania, when they were taken west with settlers to Kentucky and further cross bred to the Bourbon Red. Its heavy breast and flavorful meat made it favorite in the 1930s and 1940s. Said to have good foraging capabilities, they should thrive in our Portable Pasture Poultry Pens. The ALBC lists it as a watched breed, with fewer than 5000 breeding birds in the US. They are also listed on the Slow Food USA Ark of Taste. Like the Slate Turkey, these birds will spend a longer time in our Portable Pasture Poultry Pens as they require more time to develop to full size. |
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2008 Turkeys:
If you have placed an order, we will notify you in advance. They come cleaned and packaged whole by a licensed processor, wrapped in a strong plastic bag, suitable for freezing. Giblets are included. |
What's "Heritage"? When most Americans get a turkey from their local grocer, they are inevitably purchasing a Broad Breasted White, a variety selected for decades by the large, industrial producers for producing the most meat at the least cost. They grow fast, most likely assisted by growth hormones. A Heritage Turkey is an “old” breed, one that our ancestors enjoyed on their dining tables. Why should you be interested in a heritage turkey? Heritage turkeys have a slow growth rate, which allows for the development of muscle mass and healthy organs. That makes for a good tasting turkey! Many of these old varieties are in trouble; their numbers are low. Many have less than 500 breeding pairs! Organizations like the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy ("ALBC") and others are monitoring these birds. Their hope and ours is that rare breeds can be conserved for the genetic diversity they provide. Your purchase of a Heritage turkey does not deplete the breeding stock. To the contrary, it elevates interest in these unique birds, aiding in their resurgence. |
NEWS FROM THE FARM
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Each Thanksgiving Larry & Stephanie Doll extend an invitation to the entire Doll clan to load up their plates with dishes made from garden vegetables and, of course, a Back Forty Acres Turkey! |
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© |
2008 Back Forty Acres, LLC |
