What is a Kelly Bronze turkey?
The Kelly Bronze turkey was bred from the Bronze turkey (a rare breed) in the 1950s by Paul Kelly. The breed faced extinction in the 1950s as it was being replaced by white breeds that were faster to grow and which had light feathers which didn't leave a black quill after being plucked, a feature that has become a staple of the KellyBronze birds.
KellyBronze turkeys are completely free-range and grown to the equivalent of adulthood. This allows the breed to grow a natural layer of fat and a mature carcass, which in turn makes the bird far easier to cook and gives it the flavour it is known for. The breed has also been widely endorsed by Jamie Oliver who states that "KellyBronze turkeys are the best of the best."
The life of a Tagg Turkey
We built our own "Frankenshed" for this year's flock
Heat Lamp
The turkeys arrived at 1 day old. For the first 6 weeks of their lives, they require a heat lamp. The first 2 weeks are crucial.
Toddler Turkeys
Once the turkeys are 2 weeks old, they are generally more robust. They grow very quickly!
Turkey's Home
Last year, we had 7 survivors, so a 10x8 foot shed was ample. With 21 turkeys this year, we had to expand the living quarters. Meet "Frankenshed"!
Paddock
The turkeys love to roam so we created a paddock for them. These guys are fortunate as a prolific apple tree drops its fruit into the end of their paddock!