The Bronze is a breed of domestic turkey. The name refers to its plumage, which bears an iridescent bronze-like sheen. The Bronze had been the most popular turkey throughout most of American history, but waned in popularity beginning in the mid-20th century. Later in its history, the breed was divided into two distinct types
The Broad Breasted Bronze and the Standard Bronze. A great deal of confusion exists about the difference between Standard and Broad Breasted Bronzes, or that there is any difference at all. Collectively, the Standard and Broad Breasted varieties are simply called the Bronze turkey.
- Breed Size: Medium to large
- Weight: Tom-Around 11.5 kg, Hen-Around 7.25 kg
- Climate Tolerance: Almost all climates
- Color: Black with an iridescent bronze-like sheen
- Rarity: Common
- Country/Place of Origin: North America
The Bronze turkey was known by the late 1700s, but the name ‘Bronze’ didn’t formally appear until the 1830s. Breeders standardized the Bronze throughout the 1800s, and occasional crosses were made back to the wild turkey. And the Bronze variety was officially recognized by the American Poultry Association in the year of 1874.
Bronze turkeys are the product of crossing domestic turkeys brought from England, with the wild turkey. These matings produced a bird that was larger and more robust than the European turkeys, and tamer than wild turkeys. Though the Bronze turkey type was created in the 18th century, the actual name was not used until the 1830s, when a strain developed in the U.S. state of Rhode Island was named the Point Judith Bronze.
The name later spread to be used in reference to the breed as a whole, and was in the process simplified to just “Bronze”. In the British Isles, the Bronze was associated with Cambridge, and was called the Cambridge Bronze, but again this name has been simplified to just “Bronze”.
Care & Management
Always try to keep your birds in healthy environment and learn more about turkey farming and how to prevent health problems. Never feed your birds contaminated or outdated food. Always provide them clean and fresh water. Keep sufficient space inside the house. And lastly, take good care of your birds.
These birds weigh far less and have average life spans of 10 to 12 years. There are broad- breasted bronze turkeys, as well, who grow to the same size as the broad-breasted whites, who make up more than 98% of all birds used in production.
Turkey habitat is found in forests with a good interspersion of grassy openings, woody draws and woodland. … Nesting habitat occurs on slopes of 30-50% grade with a 60% tree canopy cover. Brood habitat must protect the poults from predators and provide them with a high protein diet, usually insects.
Bronze turkey images
Also more: Turkey bird
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