The turkeys were brought to Europe in the XVI century by the Spaniards from the American continent, where they were already domesticated by the natives. These large birds with delicate dietary meat began to breed in many poultry houses. For the breeding of new turkey breeds took breeders. Consider the most common breeds of these poultry, which differ from each other mainly in the color of feathers and weight.
Turkey meat breeds (broiler)
This poultry is grown mainly for tasty dietary meat, although turkey eggs are also consumed. Therefore, the selection of these turkeys is mainly aimed at breeding meat breeds and crosses, especially since egg production rates for many breeds are not lower than for egg breeds.
Did you know? Turkey meat is made from easily digestible proteins (about 28%) and is recommended for dietary and baby food. There is more calcium in it than in chicken, and there is more iron than in beef. It contains in its composition 2 times less purines than chicken meat, and is recommended in the menu of people suffering from urolithiasis.
Breeds of turkeys are not so much - about three dozen. Not so long ago, broiler breeds of turkeys were bred, characterized by rapid weight gain, which can exceed 20 kg. They are distinguished by a large volume of muscle mass with a rather fine boning. The output of meat at the slaughter of such breeds can reach up to 80%. 
Weight broilers are divided into the following groups according to weight category:
- light - up to 9 kg;
- medium - up to 18 kg;
- heavy - up to 25 kg.
Learn how to grow broiler turkeys at home.
Big-6
A very popular now cross-white wide-chested turkey, belonging to heavy boilers. Launched by British United Turkeys (UK), is marked "Big 6". Some specimens can reach 40 kg. This is the most productive cross turkeys, quickly gaining weight. 
Of course, usually turkeys are not brought to maximum weight, since poultry meat that has reached full maturity is already somewhat harsh. On average, males reach a mass of 22-25 kg, and females - 11 kg. The turkeys are sent for slaughter, usually in 3-4 months, since the further maintenance of the bird that is most rapidly gaining weight is not rational.
These birds with a powerful build have white plumage with a black spot of small size on the chest, a strong long neck, a straight back, long yellowish legs. The fluffy plumage of these turkeys is more pronounced in males and highly valued.
Egg production rate is 100 eggs per productive cycle.
Video: experience of keeping Big-6 turkeys
But-8
Another relatively recently derived cross meat direction heavy group from British United Turkeys. Males reach a weight of 27 kg, while females reach 10 kg. They have a plumage of pure white color, a strong constitution with long legs and an elongated neck. Fluff feathers make the body shape of these broiler meat even more rounded. Slaughter can be done from the 14th week. 
Egg production - about 100 eggs for a productive period.
Important! Crosses of turkeys are obtained by crossing different breeds and their lines, produced under zootechnical observation. The resulting hybrids best manifest themselves in the first generation and, like all hybrids, do not pass on their qualities to offspring. But if the factor of obtaining the maximum amount of meat during the slaughter of poultry is important for you, then you should turn your attention to the meat crosses and buy hatching eggs or chickens.
White wide chest
A very common breed, suitable for private farms and poultry farms. Bred in the USA in the 1960s based on Dutch white and wide-chested bronze turkeys. The mass of males reaches 17 kg, and females grow to 8-10 kg. Moreover, the maximum growth is achieved already at 100 days of age. The disadvantage of this breed are higher requirements for conditions of detention (especially temperature). 
Dense plumage is white with a small tuft of black feathers on the chest. Body shape - in the form of an oval, wide chest, widely spaced legs of medium size and dark pink color.
Learn more about the white wide-breasted breed.
From about 9 months, females lay eggs and are able to carry 100-120 eggs weighing 80-90 g during the productive period, which will be fertilized at 85-90%. Of these, 60-75% of chickens are usually derived.
Video: White Breed wide-breasted review
Canadian wide chest
The basis for the breeding of this broiler breed was a wild American turkey and English black breed. Received in America, and her name is often still American. It has a high survival rate of offspring. These turkeys are slaughtered at the age of 20-23 weeks, when males usually weigh already 13-14 kg, and females - up to 8 kg. The maximum weight of males can be up to 30 kg, and females up to 17 kg. Birds quickly gain weight, and after 6 weeks the mass of turkeys can reach 5 kg.
The coloring is white or black with a striking white stripe on the feathers of a magnificent tail. The body has a wide chest and tapers towards the tail. Red appendage, chin in the excited state can swell up to 15-20 cm. 
Egg production - 100 pieces in the period (year), with the incubation of eggs up to 93%. The eggs of the female begin to carry from the 9th to the 15th month of life.
This breed has proven itself in both poultry houses and small private farms. The bonuses of the breed are their undemanding to food and softer meat. But she does not tolerate cold and drafts.
Tips for poultry farmers: how to grow turkey poults in an incubator, how much turkey and adult turkey weigh, how to distinguish turkey from turkey.
Moscow Bronze
Bred from wide-chested bronze turkeys and local breeds in Russia. Adult individuals reach the following weights: males - about 19 kg, and females - about 2 times less, about 10 kg. They begin to score from 4 months of age, when they reach a mass of 4 kg.
The main features of turkeys of this species are a wide and well-pronounced chest and a long body. The plumage of this breed corresponds to the name of a black and bronze color with a beautiful sheen. The tail feathers are painted in light and dark brown small stripes, and at the edges have a wide black strip, which is framed in white on the very edge of the pen. But at the same time the birds have black skin, which worsens the presentation of the carcass. 
Egg production - ranging from 80 to 90 pieces per period. Eggs weighing about 87 g, their fertility - up to 95%, and the safety of the young is 85-90%.
Moscow bronze have excellent stamina. Turkeys of this breed can be grown not only in poultry farms, but also in conditions of the private sector. They are adapted to pasture conditions and to the enclosed area.
Did you know? The undisputed leader in growing turkeys is the United States - 2.669 million tons in 2012. Every year, 270 million of these birds are raised for the national holiday - Thanksgiving Day. For the United States, the countries of the European Union are in second place (1.910 million tons), while Russia is in fifth place (0.11 million tons). In most countries, the production of this bird is growing steadily.
Hybrid Converter
Cross was bred in Canada. When breeding this type, the aim was to get meat with good taste characteristics on a production scale. Cross Hybrid Converter is obtained by crossing white Dutch with bronze wide-chested turkey breeds. They are very popular in many countries around the world due to the ability to quickly gain weight. Adult specimens reach the following weight indicators: males - about 20-22 kg, females - 10-12 kg. Moreover, the specified mass gaining at the age of 20 weeks. The yield of pure meat from one individual is about 80-85%. Some turkeys can reach 30 kg. 
This wide-breasted large birds with white plumage and a magnificent tail. The carcass has a good presentation, as birds with white feathers have light skin.
Females have the ability to carry eggs already at the age of about 9 months, but not more than 50 pieces per year. The process of incubation of chicks lasts approximately 29 days.
Impervious and quickly adapts to the climatic conditions of residence. Birds Highbrid Converter can reach speeds of almost 45 km / h.
Video: Review Crossbreed Highbridge Converter
Egg direction turkeys
Egg-bearing turkeys contain because of the ability to carry eggs, often with the aim of reproduction. Turkey eggs are larger than chickens and have interesting spotting, and the taste is very similar to chicken. According to its nutritional and dietary properties are in third place after quail eggs and guinea fowl. At the same time turkeys can gain good weight, which makes it possible to engage in the procurement of meat.
Check out the breeds of chicken breeds meat and egg productivity.
Big-9
This cross has a white plumage and is different good weight gain with high reproductive performance. It was obtained by British United Turkeys. Big-9 females can carry about 118 eggs throughout the year. In addition, about 80-85% of eggs will be fertilized. Adult birds have the following indicators by weight: males - about 17 kg, and turkeys - about 9 kg. 
Big-9 turkeys have good endurance and are unpretentious in their care, quickly mastered in the environment. In addition, this breed does not require strong feeding costs, and weight gain is fast. Such turkeys can be bred both at poultry farms in industrial conditions and in the private sector.
White Moscow
Breed of turkeys white Moscow was obtained in Russia. The main objective of breeding this type was to obtain meat animals with high egg production. The basis for the breeding of this breed was white Dutch, white local and Belstvile breeds. This is a moderate turkey species. Adults reach the following indicators by weight: the male gains no more than 16 kg, and the female - about 8 kg. Approximately 5-6 months reach 4 kg of weight.
The plumage of this breed is white, and there is a black spot on the chest. Turkeys differ from females in heavier body mass, as well as in the presence of a longer plumage in the neck. The torso of these birds is medium in size, the legs are long, and the pinkish color of the beak is slightly bent.
A turkey can carry about 90-110 eggs throughout the year. This species quickly adapts to different climates and is considered the most durable.
Bronze wide chest
It was obtained in America on the basis of wild turkeys and English black breed. Actively used in breeding. The main feature of this species is a fairly large chest part, hence the name. They have a beautiful dark plumage with a greenish-bronze sheen. The tail feathers are colored in a brownish small strip with a striking black and white fringe at the top of the pen. In females, in the area of the breast, white plumage is usually spotted. Adult birds gain the following body weight: males - about 16 kg, females - about 10 kg. 
On average, females can carry about 100-120 eggs throughout the year. Almost all eggs (80%) are fertilized. In this case, females prefer to hatch chicks themselves and are exemplary mothers.
Learn more about the bronze wide-breasted breed.
But it should be borne in mind that this breed is not capable of grazing in the external environment, and therefore is more suitable for growing under production conditions.
The breed is hardy and resistant to various diseases.
Virginian
Virginian turkeys belong to moderate sight and have a beautiful white plumage. They have another name - dutch white. When growing such a bird, it is desirable to provide conditions that will be close to natural. This species is suitable for growing in a private house, as well as in a poultry farm. Mandatory walking in clean air. The birds have a small body, legs of medium length and a small head. Adult birds reach the following indicators in weight: the male - about 9 kg, and the female - only up to 4 kg. Turkey has high egg production - up to 110 pieces throughout the year.
The female incubates the poults itself and is a good mother. Another advantage is that they do not take a lot of food. In addition, this breed is unpretentious in the care.
Did you know? At first, turkeys, introduced to Europe in 1519, were valued by Europeans not for meat, but for beautiful plumage.
Wagon
This is a cross, and they quickly gain a large enough mass. Were received in Russia in the Caucasus. Separate the paternal and maternal lines. These birds have the following indicators in terms of weight: males - about 17 kg, and turkeys usually weigh 10 kg. Males at the 8th week of life have a body weight of up to 7 kg.
Turkeys wagon have white plumage. They have a wide body, powerful wings and rather long legs.
Birds are distinguished not only by rapid growth, but also by excellent vitality. The egg production of females is about 60-70 per year, with a very high fertility rate of 80-90%. The safety of offspring is also very high, almost 99%.
This type is suitable for content in the private sector.
Chiton
Color turkeys breed Khiton (Khidon) mainly white. This is a cross, imported from the Netherlands. Adults reach the following indicators in weight: turkeys gain about 19-20 kg, turkeys - about 12-15 kg. Maximum weight is reached as early as 30 weeks of age. For the season, the female can carry 90-110 eggs.
Egg and meat direction
Egg-and-meat turkeys produce less meat than broiler meat species, but females at the same time have the ability to carry up to 100 eggs per year.
Canadian Bronze
Was derived, as can be seen from the title, in Canada, quite rare. It has excellent endurance and is adapted to the cold climate. Its name was due to an unusual color: the plumage of a reddish-brown color with a bronze sheen. In males, the sternum in the upper part and the neck is colored darker, almost black, and on the back, in addition to a darker color, the strip casts bronze. The tail is decorated with brown and reddish stripes, and white thin stripes are seen in the thighs and wings.
The redness of the head turns into white or dark blue. Turkeys color is not so bright: on the wings, chest and back there is a white border and there are no decorations on the head.
Males usually weigh an average of 20 kg, but can reach up to 30 kg, while females weigh much less, 11-15 kg. Have a high egg production - up to 100 pieces per year.
This species is characterized by high endurance and can be contained in outdoor conditions.
Important! Eggs and young turkeys for growing should be purchased only in specialized farms. This is especially true of crosses and broilers, which are derived by livestock specialists. If you want to breed juveniles themselves, then you should stay on well-established stable breeds.
Fawn
The breed of turkeys fawn was bred in Uzbekistan. When breeding this breed, the main goal was to obtain a species that would be well adapted to Central Asian climatic conditions. Therefore, pale yellow turkeys are widely spread in Asia and the Caucasus. They received their name due to the color of feathers - it is a contrasting beige and brown color. 
To the conditions of detention and in the choice of food, this species is completely undemanding. Constantly keeping them in the poultry houses is not worth it, they need to walk. Fawn breed turkeys belongs to the middle weight category. Adult birds achieve the following parameters in weight: turkeys gain 6-7 kg, and the male is almost 2 times heavier - 11-12 kg.
Learn more about the features of the Uzbek fawn breed.
This species grows rather slowly: by 4 months, this bird gains weight 3.5-4 kg. In comparison with other breeds, turkeys do not carry very many eggs - no more than 60 pieces throughout the year. In addition, the hatchability of offspring is also low - about 65%.
Black Tikhoretskaya
Bred in the Krasnodar Territory in 1957. The cross of this type is adapted to living on pastures, but it is also well suited for cells. The main feature of the Black Tikhoretsky is their dense body structure and beautiful black plumage, which has a bronze sheen. In the neck - mostly black feathers. 
The weight of adults is as follows: males - up to 10 kg, and females - on average about 4-5 kg. This mass of turkeys gains the necessary mass for further sale by 4-5 months. This weight is about 3.5-4 kg, and the net weight of meat is about 60%. The females of the Black Tikhoretskaya breed carry about 60-80 eggs throughout the year. They hatch eggs themselves and take great care of the little turkey poults.
Video: more about the Black Tikhoretskaya breed
Now the demand for dietary meat turkeys is growing steadily. Many broiler crosses of these birds have been developed, which are able to quickly gain considerable weight. However, before starting turkeys, you should decide on the place and purpose of their cultivation (conditions of a private house or chicken farm, meat or egg direction).
