I am not really sure how it happened, but somehow I got involved in raising heritage poultry. These are chickens and turkeys which our great, great grandparents probably raised and are currently on the endangered or threatened list. So, I guess it is my way of trying to help preserve something of the past.
Like everything, I have had a few problems getting started, but hopefully with this years hatch, I will have an established flock of Ridley Bronze Turkey’s and will add Beltsville Small White to the flock next year (I only had one survivor from this years hatch). The Ridley Bronze is from two different distributions of a flock that was started in Southern Saskatchewan by Mr. Ridley and then was managed by the U of S on his passing.
I also raise Brown Leghorn chickens which I also got from the U of S as part of their closure of that part of the poultry program.
The plan is to aid in the preservation of these birds through breeding among the few remaining flocks in the world. Or, do what I can anyway! I will be offering some for the holidays too!
If you are interested in trying to raise these birds or to try one for one of your special occasion meals, give me a call.
Figure 1 - two week old Ridley Bronze with Beltsville and Nicholas White poults
Figure 2 - Two week old Ridley Bronze
Figure 3 - The only surviving Beltsville
Ridley Bronze turkey census 2010
The Ridley Bronze turkey is the only strain of turkey that was developed in Canada. For over 50 years the Ridley family of Leslie, Saskatchewan kept a closed flock of over 800 naturally breeding Bronze turkeys. When they retired from farming the University of Saskatchewan took over the flock and hatched about 200 a year, using a breeding plan designed to maintain genetic diversity. In 2008 after 26 years at Saskatoon the flock was dispersed to 9 breeders.
Many of these birds were eaten in their first season, and in their second year, which was their first breeding season, many mishaps occurred and the numbers diminished still further. Luckily several breeders had obtained stock in earlier years, so there were some sources that were less closely related.
With the approval of Rare Breeds Canada, Margaret Thomson, their Turkey Co-ordinator, planned a survey of Ridley Bronze turkeys, and hatched a few herself. In the spring of 2010 20 breeders were located. Six flocks had 4 or more hens, but only 5 are known to have produced 50 poults or more. The total number of breeding hens was estimated at between 80 and 100. (Each turkey hen could be expected to lay at least 100 eggs if prevented from going broody, or could hatch 2 clutches of a dozen or more.) By the end of August 2010 there were 8 new owners who plan to become breeders and possibly others who ordered from Performance Poultry, the only hatchery that supplies Ridley Bronze, or from an Alliston, ON breeder.
Since leaving the university these turkeys have proven to be highly fertile and very successful at raising their own young. They are not as big as the broadbreasted Bronze, but their hardiness, calm temperament and love of foraging make them very suitable for small farms to raise as a sustainable source of meat, or on a bigger scale for the niche markets that want that extra special taste and texture that only a heritage bird can provide.
To locate a breeder near you contact windrush@telus.net or Rare Breeds Canada at rbc@rarebreedscanada.ca or 438-257-1059