White Holland

The White Holland is an old white variety of the domestic turkey, Meleagris gallopavo, associated with North American farm flocks and earlier European white turkeys. It has pure white plumage, a black beard on mature toms, light shanks, and the broad body shape expected of a traditional meat turkey. The variety became popular partly because white feathers leave fewer dark pinfeathers on the dressed carcass, a trait that later helped shape commercial white turkey production. Heritage White Hollands are different from modern broad-breasted commercial whites, though the two can be confused at a glance.

Small farms and conservation breeders keep White Hollands for table birds, exhibition, and preservation of naturally breeding turkey lines. They do best with dry, secure night housing, strong roosts, pasture or a roomy yard, and a higher-protein start than chickens need. Poults can be delicate in cool, damp brooder conditions. Buyers should ask whether a flock is heritage White Holland, broad-breasted white, or a cross, because growth rate, fertility, mobility, and breeding plans can differ sharply.