Purebred Bourbon Red Turkey Poults

About Us:

Our family started with chicken over 4 years ago for personal use and have expanded our flocks over the years to include turkeys, geese and ducks. We registered our company Horsethief Homestead LLC. and became a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) NPIP/AI clean certified breeder/hatchery early 2023.

NPIP - Why its so Important

The National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) was established in the early 1930's to provide a cooperative industry, state, and federal program through which new diagnostic technology can be effectively applied to the improvement of poultry and poultry products throughout the country. The development of the NPIP was initiated to eliminate Pullorum Disease caused by Salmonella Pullorum which was rampant in poultry and could cause upwards of 80% mortality in baby poultry. The program was later extended and refined to include testing and monitoring for Salmonella typhoid, Salmonella Enteritidis, Mycoplasma Gallisepticum, Mycoplasma Synoviae, Mycoplasma Meleagridis, and Avian Influenza. In addition, the NPIP currently includes commercial poultry, turkeys, waterfowl, exhibition poultry, backyard poultry, and game birds. The technical and management provisions of the NPIP have been developed jointly by Industry members and State and Federal officials. These criteria have established standards for the evaluation of poultry with respect to freedom from NPIP diseases.

In short NPIP/AI clean ensures your are getting healthy stock and shouldn't be hatching chicken with Avian Influenza or Poullorum Disease.

The majority of States requires exports (sellers) to be NPIP certified to sell poultry and poultry products (hatching eggs) across state lines. Non-NPIP sellers shipping eggs from online sales are breaking the law and you the importer can also be held liable if importing poulty or poultry products from an out of state non-NPIP seller.

* If purchasing eggs on ebay or from another site, always ask the seller to provide active NPIP certification information. NPIP certified breeders are proud of thier participation and will willingly provide this information.  If they can't provide it, don't order from them.

Find out more: https://www.poultryimprovement.org/
Map and list of participating breeders: https://www.poultryimprovement.org/statesContent.cfm

Bourbon Red Turkey INTRO/History

Bourbon Red turkeys are heritage breed turkeys that can start laying eggs at 30–36 weeks of age. They are excellent egg layers, starting to lay eggs consistently in the spring through fall for more than three years. Bourbon Red eggs incubate for 27.5–28 days, which is longer than chickens, which incubate for about 21 days. Bourbon Red turkeys are also known for being easy to raise and handle, great foragers, and excellent mothers. They are calm and personable, and tend to be the most common breed to go broody.

Quick Stats

Purpose and Type	Egg Laying and Meat; Exhibition
Weights	Hen 14 lbs	Tom 23 lbs
Egg Shell Color	Off White with brown specks
Egg Size	Large to Extra Large
Egg Production	160-180 per year (estimate only)
Temperment	Docile
Broody	Setters
Country of Origin	North America
Roost Height	2 feet

Description

The Bourbon Red Turkey is a rare breed of the heritage turkey and was admitted into the American Standard of Perfection in 1909. Developed in Pennsylvania and taken to Kentucky with the long rifle, this breed later was given the name Bourbon Red from its popularity from Bourbon County, Kentucky. The Bourbon Red turkey is another of the turkeys with a beautiful color pattern and makes a good farm and backyard turkey.