Blue Slate

Product ID: 6BLS
Breed Comparison Chart
This rare heritage turkey is one of the oldest turkey breeds in the U.S, first documented in the 1800s. Known for its striking slate-colored plumage and natural hardiness, the Blue Slate turkey a prized breed among small growers and homesteaders.

A Beautiful and Rare Heritage Turkey

These turkeys grow at a slower pace than commercial breeds. While they do not offer the same rapid conversion, they excel at foraging and are highly adaptable to different environments.

Their distinct slate coloration is a genetic mutation that was capitalized on by breeders. Depending on the shade, they are sometimes referred to as blue or lavender turkeys.

Their plumage can range from a light, ashy gray to a deep blue. Their feathers may have black specks or a lacy pattern, giving them a truly unique appearance. Hens and toms look similar, but hens typically have lighter plumage. 

Like other heritage breeds, Blue Slate turkeys can reproduce naturally, but they do not breed true. Offpring may have blue, black, or white variations. This turkey has been used for show and exhibition. 

This breed is hardy, and highly suited to free-range or pastured poultry operations. They do best in environments where they can express their natural instincts.

Because they can reproduce naturally, they are an ideal choice for homesteaders or farms that wish to run a self-sufficient operation.

The Blue Slate has tender, high-quality meat that is ideal for farm-to-table operations or niche markets. An excellent choice for growers that want to offer a premium product.

With optimal care and climate conditions, growers can expect toms to reach 20 to 23 lbs, and hens reaching between 12 to 14 lbs. 


 
Ordering Details:
  • A minimum of 20 Poults are needed to ship, can be as few as 5 per breed.
  • Poults are sold as straight run (SR) only, we do not sex out Heritage Turkeys.
  • Heritage Turkeys ship separatly from other poulty, they are hatched on Tuesdays.
  • For pricing and orders above 500 please Call our office (814) 539-7026.
  • Still browsing? View our full catalog of heritage turkeys. 

Breed Information

Tom Weight:20-23 lbs
Hen Weight:12-14 lbs
Meat Production:used
Natural Mating:yes
Egg Size:Large
Egg Color:Pale Cream
Resistance:Hardy
Status:Watch
 
Straight Run Only
Blue Slate

Pricing

Sex 1-63 64+ Quantity Hatch Date
Straight Run $20.00  $18.00 
Min: 5
Male $0.00  $0.00 
Female $0.00  $0.00 

Recomended Add-Ons:

Grow Gel Plus DPP - $4.50

1 PACKET WILL TREAT 100 CHICKS -Can be used multiple times for small orders. This unique formula of proteins, peptides, amino acids, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and probiotic bacteria is formulated for day old poultry to improve the chick health. Give upon arrival of chicks, and also can be used at a later time.

StresEEZ Plus - $9.75

Water-dispersible source of vitamins, trace minerals, and electrolytes. 6oz pack per 128gal of water/ 1 GALLON DOSAGE: 1/4 tsp powder to 1 gal of drinking water.

Optional Vaccination's are preformed at the hatchery.
GroGel and Vitamin packs may be shipped with the birds or shipped separately before your birds arrive.

The table below is for the next several hatches.
Due to the Availability of Heritage Turkeys we may have to adjust your ship date, we will notify you if adjustments are made.
Hatch Dates Go Back More Shipping Dates
SEX (3/24) (3/31) (4/7) (4/14) (4/21) (4/28) (5/5) (5/12) (5/19) (5/27) (6/2) (6/9) (6/16) (6/23) (6/30) (7/7)
Straight Run
Male
Female
Key:
Available
Limited availablity (we will call you if your order is affected)
Not Available

Out of the ~250 million turkeys produced in the United States about ~1% of those are said to be Heritage Breeds. Heritage Breeds take longer to reach market typically 25-30 weeks depending on feeding and their environment. This is much longer than the Hybrid Turkey Breeds that we sell which take 14-17 weeks. Heritage Turkeys also will mate naturally vs their Hybrid Cousins.

The slower growing Heritage Turkeys are perfect for someone who wants a more natural bird. Many people believe they are more flavorful since they are slower growing.  

PREPARING FOR YOUR ORDER:
 
  • Brooder Space/Heat: For turkeys we recommend not to keep them where chickens have been raised. Day old poultry should be started in a proper space such a barn, out-building, basement, poultry coop or garage.  It is important to make sure your brooder space is clean and disinfected prior to using it, especially if poultry have been kept there before. Whether you have them on bedding or on a wire floor, there should be some type of solid wall or partition around them to prevent drafts. Make sure dogs, cats and rodents are kept out. Initially each poult needs about 1/3 square foot of pen space. What works best for larger areas is a brooder ring of cardboard 18 inches high with a heat lamp hung over the center of the area.  Doing a ring/circle will not leave any square corners for baby poultry to pile in the corners and keeping them from wondering off too far from the heat and food source. Hang the heat lamp about 18 inches above the floor at first. A thermometer placed on the floor should read 95 degrees directly under the lamp/heat source.  Raise the lamp every 3-4 days to gradually decrease the heat level to 90-85 degrees.
 
  • Bedding: Use 2 to 4 inches of dry litter, such as pine wood shavings, chopped straw or other appropriate bedding. Do not use newspaper or other slick material, this can cause legs to slip out from underneath them and cause serious leg problems. We also don't advise using cedar chips, treated shavings, large thick wood chips or dusty sawdust as bedding.
 
  • Water: Make sure you provide plenty of containers of water based on amount of poultry. Use one one-gallon chick water for 25 chicks or poults. Provide room temperature water. Wash & clean the containers every few days. We recommend adding our Streseez Plus (1 teaspoon per three gallons of water) to their drinking water.
 
  • Feed: Use a Chick starter, Turkey or Game Bird starter feed for turkey poults. Protein should be at least 26 to 28 percent for starter and fed for the first six weeks. After six weeks, you can switch to a grower feed at least 20 percent protein which is higher than the requirement for chickens and broiler feed (ask your local feed dealer).

FIRST DAY INSTRUCTIONS:

Arrival: The post office should notify you when your order arrives and will ask you to pick them up. We suggest notifying your post office to let them know you are expecting an order of live animals.  After arrival introduce room temperature water first, this is the most important nutrient after being in transit.

REMEMBER….Baby poultry may carry germs that can make people very sick.  Avoid contaminating human food and always wash your hands after caring for them.

WATCH THE BEHAVIOR: The best way to judge comfort of the birds is to watch them. When they are cold they will be loud and huddle close together, if comfortable they will be reasonably quiet. If they are huddled to one side there is a draft moving the heat to that direction. If they are staying away from the lamp, the lamp is too low or it’s too warm in the room. Huddling closely under the lamp indicates they need more heat. If they are spread out throughout the pen drinking, eating and sleeping you have a perfect living space.

One heat lamp can handle about 35- 50 turkeys.
0-1 week old    90-95º F
1-2 week old    85-90º F
2-3 week old    80-85º F
3-4 week old    75-80º F
4-5 week old    70-75º F
5-6 week old    you can start weaning from heat lamp (above 65º F)

Normally brooder temperature can be dropped about 5 degrees a week and can be turned off during the day by 4 weeks of age unless you live in cooler weather areas then by 5-6 weeks of age eventually weaning them off the extra heat completely. If raising them in warmer weather, heat may only be needed for a couple of weeks. You’ll have to determine by their age and weather to allow them to go outdoors for brief periods of time during the day. Once they are fully feathered around 6 to 9 weeks of age staying outdoors all the time will be perfectly fine but they should have a shelter to protect them from too much sun and heavy rains.

As They Grow: Young poultry grow very fast you will need to enlarge their pen as they grow and keep up with clean bedding as necessary. After 1 week, raise the feed and water containers. Raise or hang containers to the height of their backs just so they can reach the feed and water easily, this will help with less waste and avoid breast blisters from laying down to eat and drink while also keeping the litter more dry.

Water Area: One gallon chick waterers are recommended- one per 25 chicks or poults. To avoid poults from getting chilled or drowning, do not use open pans, dishes, or buckets for watering. If keeping birds in the same area or moving birds to different spots you may want to keep the watering area dry by making a wire platform on which the waterer can sit on. With using a platform set up, any spilled water goes through the wire and out of reach. They cannot track it back to the bedding or make a mud puddle with it. Drinking water stays cleaner plus their pen or pasture also stays dry. Some growers put this type of waterer on moveable platform.
 
Little ones can be on 1/2" hardware cloth placed over a pan for the babies. The platform should be large enough to extend at least 6" out from the edge of the waterer for the babies.
 
Adults can be 1" welded wire nailed on to wood cross pieces. This can be placed over a pit in the ground for the adults. The platform should be large enough to extend at least 30" out from the edge of the waterer for adults.

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