Valley Hatchery is proud to offer Bronze Heritage Standard Turkeys, a breed with a long and rich history in North America. These birds originated by crossing the Wild Eastern Turkey with domesticated turkeys brought over by early European colonists, resulting in a larger and more docile turkey than either of its parent breeds. Despite resembling the Broad Breasted Bronze turkey, the Heritage Standard Bronze did not take on its current name until the 1800s, when it was recognized by the American Poultry Association in 1874.
While the Broad Breasted Bronze became the more popular breed for commercial production, dedicated breeders kept the Heritage Standard Bronze alive and thriving. These turkeys are known for being longer-lived and slower-growing than their Broad Breasted counterparts, but they are also excellent at foraging and are able to breed naturally. As with most turkey breeds, Bronze Heritage Standard Turkeys are primarily used for exhibition and meat/egg production. They lay relatively few eggs per year, but these eggs tend to be large to extra-large and off-white in color. Toms of this breed generally weigh 23lbs, while hens weigh 14lbs. Keep in mind that Bronze Heritage Standard Turkeys may be prone to going broody. At Valley Hatchery, we are committed to providing high-quality Bronze Heritage Standard Turkeys that are perfect for a variety of purposes.