Narragansett Turkey

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The Narragansett turkey is named for Narragansett Bay in Rhode Island. It descends from a cross between native Eastern Wild turkeys and domestic turkeys brought by English and European colonists. Improved and standardized for production qualities, the Narragansett was the foundation of the turkey industry in New England.

The Narragansett variety is similar in color to the Bronze breed, though it is lighter in color and in build. Narragansett turkeys are gray or dull black with a white bar on the wing feathers. The beak is horn colored, and the head is red to bluish white. The Narragansett is known for its calm disposition and maternal qualities, as well as early maturation, good laying, and excellent meat quality. This variety is smaller than the Bronze, with hens weighing 18 pounds and toms 30 pounds.

Though the Narragansett was not as historically popular as the Bronze, it has been widely used throughout New England and the Midwestern states. It lost most of its popularity during the twentieth century and it has not been a fashionable commercial variety since then. Its potential use today for small-scale, outdoor turkey production is gaining popularity.

Sources

For More Information:

American Livestock Breeds Conservancy
P.O. Box 477
Pittsboro, NC 27312
919-542-5704
http://www.albc-usa.org

ALBC’s List of Heritage Turkey Producers
ALBC Manual - How to Raise Heritage Turkeys on Pasture

Society for the Preservation of Poultry Antiquities
Dr. Charles R.H. Everett, Secretary-Treasurer
1057 Nick Watts Road
Lugoff, SC 29078
803-960-2114
http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/SPPA/SPPA.html

Find Producers on LocalHarvest

http://www.localharvest.org/ark-product.jsp?id=170