Broad Breasted Bronze
The Broad Breasted Bronze is a heavy meat strain of domestic turkey developed from Bronze stock selected for rapid growth, a wide breast, and a large frame. It keeps the dark, coppery bronze plumage and barred wings of older Bronze turkeys, but its body type is much heavier and less athletic. Dark pinfeathers can be more noticeable on processed birds than on white-feathered commercial turkeys, which is one reason white meat lines became more common in large-scale production.
This turkey is raised mainly for market birds rather than long-lived, self-replacing flocks. Mature toms and hens may have poor natural mating success because of weight and breast width, and commercial breeding usually relies on artificial insemination. Small farms that raise Broad Breasted Bronze poults plan feed, footing, shade, and processing dates carefully; letting birds become overmature can increase leg strain, heat stress, and handling difficulty. It should not be confused with the Standard Bronze heritage turkey.
Colors: Black, Blue Slate, Bourbon Red, Bronze, Brown with Iridescent Sheen, Buff, Chocolate, Mottled, Narragansett, Penciled, Pied, Red Bronze, Royal Palm, Slate, White
