Turkey Breeders
The number of heritage turkeys in Canada is unknown as there has never been a census and no system of registration exists as there is for sheep or cattle. However, after several years of contact with new and established breeders through RBC and various poultry groups, I can make better guesses of the population size each year. Based on correspondence and my own observations, I can say with some certainty that interest in heritage turkeys is increasing. Many new breeders have established small flocks and sales of breeding stock and meat are brisk.
The American Livestock Breed Conservancy (ALBC) turkey censuses have shown massive increases in the number of breeding birds since 1998, and the Slow Food movement has boosted their popularity as meat. Media coverage all over Canada has raised their profile, to the extent that many would-be breeders are unable to obtain stock of the variety they would like.
This is a serious handicap to anyone who wants to grow turkeys for meat, as they are not easily obtainable in large numbers from Canadian hatcheries. A few US hatcheries will send day-olds to the nearest Post Office on the US side of the border, for pickup and importation by their new owner. This method is expensive and usually involves some losses.
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BELTSVILLE SMALL WHITE
ONTARIO
McCALL, JoANN - CIRRUS HILL FARM
Box 3355, Meaford, ON
N4L 1A5
Email: info@cirrushillfarm.ca
Web: www.cirrushillfarm.ca
McPHAIL, LINDLEY
776 Hamilton Road, Russell, ON
K4R 1E5
Tel: 613-445-0754
E-mail: lindley_mcphail@xplornet.com
BLUE SLATE
BRITISH COLUMBIA
HILLSDEN, JIM & YVONNE - CHERRY CREEK CANADIANS
5089 Trans Canada Hwy West, Kamloops, BC
V1S 2B1
Tel:250-828-2076
Email: cdnhorse@telus.net
Web: www.cherrycreekcanadians.ca
SETZER, TYLER ~ FRIENDS OF FORT STEELE
9851 Highway 93/95, Fort Steele, BC
V0B 1N0
Tel: 250-420-7166 (cell)
Tel: 250-417-6000 (office)
Email: tyler.setzer@fortsteele.bc.ca
THOMSON, ALAN & MARGARET - WINDRUSH FARM
1432 North Beach Rd., Salt Spring Island, BC
V8K 1B2
Tel: 250-537-4669
Email: windrush@telus.net
Web: www.islandsheritagelivestock.com
RIDLEY BRONZE
BRITISH COLUMBIA
HILLSDEN, JIM & YVONNE - CHERRY CREEK CANADIANS
5089 Trans Canada Hwy West, Kamloops, BC
V1S 2B1
Tel:250-828-2076
Email: cdnhorse@telus.net
Web: www.cherrycreekcanadians.ca
THOMSON, ALAN & MARGARET - WINDRUSH FARM
1432 North Beach Rd., Salt Spring Island, BC
V8K 1B2
Tel: 250-537-4669
Email: windrush@telus.net
Web: www.islandsheritagelivestock.com
ONTARIO
McPHAIL, LINDLEY
776 Hamilton Road, Russell, ON
K4R 1E5
Tel: 613-445-0754
E-mail: lindley_mcphail@xplornet.com
MORRISSEY, HEATHER - TOTEM FARM
Carlisle, ON.
Tel. 905-690-9497
Email: hmorrissey09@gmail.com
