The Bourbon Red is the iconic American heritage turkey: deep mahogany-red body, white wing and tail tips, table-quality meat, and a friendly disposition. The 'easy mode' heritage turkey for first-time keepers. FastPoultry takes free quote requests for Bourbon Red Turkey as day-old poults, started birds, adult birds, and breeder pairs and matches each one with NPIP-certified breeders within 1 business day.
| Origin | Bourbon County, Kentucky - 1909 |
|---|---|
| APA recognized | 1909 |
| Conservation status | Watch |
| Adult weight | Toms 18-23 lb, Hens 12-14 lb (live) |
| Size class | Heritage |
| Eggs per year | ~60 |
| Egg color | Cream with brown speckles |
| Egg size | Large |
| Broodiness | High |
| Cold hardiness | Excellent |
| Heat tolerance | Good |
| Noise level | Average |
| Flight tendency | Strong flier (heritage trait) |
| Beginner friendly | Yes |
Developed in Bourbon County, Kentucky, in the late 1800s by J. F. Barbee and others by crossing Buff turkeys with Standard Bronze and White Holland. APA-recognized 1909. Popular through the 1930s-40s but nearly went extinct after WWII as commercial Broad-Breasted hybrids took over the table market. Saved by Heritage Turkey Foundation breeders in the 1990s; now Watch status. Bourbon Red has the friendliest disposition of any heritage turkey breed.
Best for: table bird, foraging, heritage, breeding flock
Hens are excellent natural mothers - go broody and raise their own clutches.
| Indoor coop space | 10 sq ft per bird |
|---|---|
| Run space | 25 sq ft per bird |
| Roost bar | 15 in per bird |
Space: Pasture access strongly preferred - excellent foragers.
Feeding: Turkey starter (28% protein) first 8 weeks, grower (22%), finisher (18%) for table birds.
Health: Watch for blackhead disease - keep separate from chickens or treat both flocks with anthelmintic.
Climate: Zones 3-9. Bred for Kentucky/Tennessee climates.
You can request Bourbon Red Turkey through FastPoultry, which matches buyer requests with breeders. Choose from 4 request pages for day-old poults, started birds, adult birds, and breeder pairs, then tell us your quantity, preferred age, and delivery state in the form on this page. Matched breeder options arrive within 1 business day, and you arrange payment, pickup, or shipping directly with the breeder you choose.
Prices for Bourbon Red Turkey are set by each breeder and change with season, line quality, age, and quantity, so FastPoultry does not publish a fixed price. Submitting a request is free. Matched breeders reply with current pricing, and you should ask whether the quote includes boxing, shipping, and vaccinations before you pay the breeder directly.
A Bourbon Red Turkey hen lays roughly 60 eggs a year, and the eggs are large and cream with brown speckles. Hens are excellent natural mothers - go broody and raise their own clutches. Broodiness is rated high. Real production depends on strain, hen age, season, and daylight, so ask breeders about the laying record of their parent stock.
Yes. The Bourbon Red Turkey is rated beginner friendly. Temperament: calm, curious, friendly, foraging; cold hardiness: excellent; heat tolerance: good; noise level: average. It is best for table bird, foraging, heritage, and breeding flock. Check local rules on roosters and flock size before you buy.
The USDA NPIP state importation table (May 20, 2026) lists VS Form 9-3 as required for shipments into 44 of 50 states, and 31 states list a permit, approval number, or other entry requirement, so check your state's location page before you order. VS Form 9-3 is the NPIP report of sales that the shipping breeder completes, and some states add a permit number, a Pullorum-Typhoid or avian influenza clean-flock rule, or a health certificate. FastPoultry does not ship to Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, or the US Virgin Islands through standard requests.
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