AV Bird Hatchery
Bourbon Red Heritage Turkey Poults. (Pre-sale 2026)

Shipping begins at the end of April. If poults become available sooner, we’ll contact you right away.
Our Bourbon Red Turkey Poults are sold straight run only and come from one of America’s most beloved heritage turkey breeds — admired for both beauty and quality meat production.
🦃 About the Breed:
The Bourbon Red Turkey gets its name from its striking reddish-chestnut plumage and from Bourbon County, Kentucky, where it was first developed in the late 1800s. This breed originated through the careful crossing of Buff, Standard Bronze, and White Holland turkeys, creating a stunning, hardy bird ideal for homesteads and small farms.
During the 1930s and 1940s, Bourbon Reds were a leading variety in the U.S. turkey industry thanks to their excellent meat quality and natural hardiness. Although later overshadowed by the Broad Breasted White, the breed has made a remarkable comeback and is now recognized as one of the most popular heritage turkeys in America.
Today, Bourbon Reds are listed as “Watch” by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy, meaning there are fewer than 5,000 breeding birds in the U.S. They are also honored in Slow Food USA’s Ark of Taste, celebrating traditional American foods worth preserving.
🪶 Breed Characteristics:
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Adult Tom Weight: 33 lbs (15 kg)
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Adult Hen Weight: 18 lbs (8.2 kg)
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Standard Mature Weight (Butcher Age 28 Weeks): 23 lbs (toms), 14 lbs (hens)
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Plumage: Deep reddish-chestnut feathers with white primary tail feathers, red-banded tails, and white flight feathers.
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Temperament: Calm, manageable, and excellent grazers.
Once known as Kentucky Reds or Bourbon Butternuts, these birds remain a cornerstone of American heritage farming — a true symbol of beauty, sustainability, and history.
📦 Order Early – Limited Availability Each Season!
Heritage breeds like the Bourbon Red sell quickly, and shipping begins late April, weather permitting.