Breeds
British Poultry Standards:
The standards published here relate solely to the traditional varieties of turkey, which are naturally bred and not related in any way to the modern day, commercial, broad-breasted or dimple-breasted types.
Heavy Breeds: Male
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| Carriage: |
Stately and moderately upright. |
| Type: |
Body long, deep and well rounded.
Back curving with good slope to tail.
Breast broad, full, long and straight. Wings strong and large.
Tail long in proportion to body. |
| Head: |
Long, broad and carunculated.
Beak strong, curved and well set.
Eyes bright, bold and clear. |
| Snood: |
The fleshy protruberance above the beak of a male turkey. This is a muscle that elongates to as much as 15.24 cm (6 in) down over the beak when displaying. It can be retracted to form a short erect cone above the beak when not displaying. The snood will vary in colour from pale pink to very deep pink on all varieties, according to activity and behaviour. |
| Throat wattle: |
Large and pendant. |
Caruncles:
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The fleshy round prominences on the head and neck, which are larger on the front of the neck, below the throat wattle. They can change from bright red through to bluish white. |
| Neck: |
Long, curving backward towards saddle. |
Beard or tassel:
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Cluster of thick, black, hair-like growth attached to the centre of the upper part of the breast in all adult males. The beard can grow to around 15.24cm (6 in) in length.
Females have a smaller beard, which is usually hidden by breast feathers. |
| Legs and feet: |
Thighs long and stout. |
| Fluff: |
(the feathers between the legs and base of the vent) soft and short.
Shanks large, strong, well rounded and of medium length.
Toes, four, straight and strong and well spread. |
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| Heavy Breeds: Female |
The female is smaller and finer in bone structure than the male. |
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| Light Breeds: Both Male and Female |
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| General Standard |
The general characteristics are the same as for the Heavy Breeds with the following exceptions |
| Carriage: |
Active and upright |
| Legs and feet: |
Shanks large, strong and fairly long |
| Serious Defects |
- Crooked or other deformity of the breast bone.
- Wry tail.
- Feathers other than the colour stipulated for the variety.
- Double-breasted varieties.
- Any birds exceeding the weights laid down in the Standard.
- Waddling gait denoting a commercial meat breed.
- Any abnormality.
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| Scale of Points |
| Type |
40 |
| Head |
20 |
| Legs and Feet |
10 |
| Colour |
20 |
| Condition |
10 |
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Total :
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100 |
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| Egg |
Most turkey eggs are beige with darker speckles, different colours having varying amounts of speckles.
The shape should be very pronounced: broad at one end, tapering to a narrow point. |
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