Bronze Heritage Standard Turkey

Bronze Heritage Standard Turkey

The Heritage (Standard) Bronze Turkey is a historically significant breed, developed by crossing the Wild Eastern Turkey with domesticated turkeys brought by European settlers. This cross created a larger, more docile bird than its wild counterpart, with beautiful bronze coloring similar to the Broad Breasted Bronze turkey.

While it shares the same coloration, the Heritage Bronze can naturally breed, has a longer lifespan, and is an excellent forager, making it a favorite for homesteads and family farms. Originally recognized by the American Poultry Association in 1874, this breed remains a prized choice for those seeking traditional, sustainable turkey farming. At Chicken Coop Company, we’re proud to offer this historic turkey for your flock.

Appearance:

• Feather Color: The Bronze Heritage Standard Turkey has a stunning appearance due to its shiny, iridescent bronze feathers. The feathers have a deep metallic sheen, with copper, green and gold tones that make the bird stand out. The feathers shimmer in the sun, it’s a real showstopper. Males (toms) have more metallic sheen than females (hens).
  
  

• Body Type: The Bronze Heritage Turkey is a big bird, broad shouldered and deep chested. Unlike commercial breeds it has a balanced body, suited for natural breeding. It’s a great meat bird, but slower growing than the Broad Breasted Bronze. Males (toms) weigh 23-30 pounds, females (hens) 12-18 pounds.
  
  

• Head and Beak: The Bronze Heritage Turkey has a large head with a prominent snood (the fleshy thing that hangs over the beak) which is red and elongates during mating displays. The wattles under the beak are also red and add to the bird’s charm. The beak is small and sharp, good for foraging and eating.
  
  

• Legs and Feet: The legs of the Bronze Heritage Turkey are yellow and strong, supporting the big body. The feet are sturdy and well formed, the turkey can move around easy. They have three toes on each foot, like all turkeys.
  
  

• Tail: The tail of the Bronze Heritage Turkey is one of its best features. It’s fan shaped and big, with long feathers that spread out beautifully. The feathers are dark in color with an iridescent sheen that matches the bronze of the rest of the body.

Temperament:

• Calm and Friendly: The Bronze Heritage Turkey is known for being calm and gentle, easier to handle than some other breeds. They are not as flighty or aggressive as commercial breeds, so they are a good fit for small farms, homesteads and family friendly environments.
  
  

• Curious and Intelligent: Like many heritage breeds the Bronze Heritage Turkey is curious and loves to explore. They are intelligent birds that forage for insects, seeds and plants and love to free range when given the chance.
  
  

• Good for Free-Range: The Bronze Heritage Turkey is well suited for free range environments where it can express its natural behaviors, forage for food and roam free. They are more active than some other breeds of turkey, love to move and explore. But as with all turkeys they should be protected from predators especially at night.
  
  

• Not Highly Aggressive: The Bronze Heritage Turkey is not aggressive and is generally peaceful with other poultry, chickens, ducks and even other turkeys. They may establish a pecking order in the flock but they are social and tolerant birds.
  
  

Meat Production:

• Moderate to Large Size: The Bronze Heritage Turkey is a larger bird than some other heritage breeds but smaller than commercial turkeys like the Broad Breasted White. Toms weigh 23-30 pounds, hens 12-18 pounds. While the bird is a great size for meat production it grows slower than the Broad Breasted Bronze.
  
  

• Flavorful Meat: The meat of the Bronze Heritage Turkey is prized for its rich traditional turkey flavor which is often described as more flavorful and juicy than commercial turkeys. The breast meat is lean but tender, the dark meat is flavorful and rich. Many people who raise heritage turkeys prefer the taste of Bronze Heritage Turkey meat because of its more distinct and robust flavor compared to mass produced breeds.
  
  

• Slow Growth Rate: As a heritage breed the Bronze Heritage Turkey grows slower than commercial turkeys. They reach slaughter weight in about 24-28 weeks which means they take longer to get to full size. But this slower growth contributes to the richness and depth of flavor that is characteristic of heritage breed turkeys.
  
  

Health and Care:

• Hardy and Resilient: The Bronze Heritage Turkey is a hardy breed that can adapt to different climates. It can thrive in cold and warm temperatures as long as it is given proper shelter and care. They are more resilient than commercial turkeys which are bred for fast growth but often more prone to health issues.
  

• Easy Care: The Bronze Heritage Turkey is easy care. They don’t require special diets or care and thrive on a balanced poultry diet that includes grains, fresh vegetables and forage. Like all poultry they should be checked regularly for parasites such as mites or lice and their living area should be kept clean and dry.
  
  

• Health Issues: Like all turkeys the Bronze Heritage Turkey can be susceptible to common poultry diseases such as blackhead, coccidiosis and mites. Regular health checks and a clean dry living space are key to keeping these birds healthy.
  
  

Housing:

• Space: The Bronze Heritage Turkey needs space to move around. If housed in a coop they should have access to a large outdoor area where they can roam, forage and express natural behaviors. The housing should be predator proof as they are more vulnerable at night.
  
  

• Predator Protection: Due to their docile nature Bronze Heritage Turkeys should be protected from predators. A secure coop with high fencing is essential to keep them safe. During the day they can be let out to free range but at night they should be kept in a predator proof shelter.
  
  

Show and Ornamental:

• Poultry Shows: The Bronze Heritage Turkey is often shown in poultry shows because of its unique appearance, excellent qualities and traditional heritage. Its beautiful feathers and muscular body make it a standout in heritage breed shows.
  
  

• Ornamental Value: Beyond meat production Bronze Heritage Turkeys are highly valued for ornamental purposes. Their beautiful feather patterns and elegant tails make them a stunning addition to any farm or homestead. They are popular among those who appreciate traditional heritage poultry breeds.
  
  

What is a Heritage (Standard) Bronze Turkey?
A historically significant breed created by crossing Wild Eastern and European domesticated turkeys.

How does the Heritage Bronze differ from the Broad Breasted Bronze?
The Heritage Bronze can breed naturally, grows slower, and has a longer lifespan.

What is the average weight of a Heritage Bronze turkey?
A tom averages 25 lbs, while a hen averages 16 lbs.

Is the Heritage Bronze good for homesteads?
Yes, it’s ideal for homesteads due to its foraging skills and natural breeding abilities.

When was the Heritage Bronze recognized by the APA?
It was recognized by the American Poultry Association in 1874.

Bronze Heritage Standard Turkey Facts