Narragansett Turkey
Encyclopedia
The Narragansett Turkey is a breed
of Meleagris gallopavo which descends from a cross between the Eastern Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) and the domestic turkey brought to Colonial America
by English
and other European colonists
beginning in the 17th century. According to the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy
, the Narragansett Turkey is a "historic variety, unique to North America
" and is named for Narragansett Bay
.
with black, gray, tan, and white feather
s. It resembles the Bronze Turkey but has feathers of gray or dull black replacing the Bronze Turkey's distinctive coppery coloring. The Narragansett sometimes has bars of white feathers on its wings due to a genetic mutation not found outside the United States
. It has a black beard
, a horn-colored beak
, and a mostly featherless head and neck which range in color from red to blueish white.
The breed is prized for its excellent temperament combining a calm disposition with good maternal abilities. They mature early, are good egg
producers, have excellent quality meat
, and "when kept at liberty, (it) doesn't wander too far from home". Improved over generations through selective breeding
, young Narragansett Turkey toms weigh 22-28 pounds and hens weigh 12-16 pounds. They can run quickly, fly well, and prefer to spend their nights roosting in trees.
across the United States. According to an account from the early 1870s, flocks of up to two hundred birds were common. Narragansett Turkeys were successful at foraging
for cricket
s, grasshopper
s and other insect
s, and could be maintained with little supplemental feed
.
Narragansett Turkey became the foundation of the turkey industry in New England
and was especially important in Rhode Island
and Connecticut
. It was also popular in the Mid-Atlantic States
and the Midwest
. This breed was recognized by the American Poultry Association
in 1874.
In the early 20th century, the popularity of the Bronze Turkey grew even more and the Narragansett Turkey soon became a rarity. It was not commercially cultivated
for many decades until the early 21st century when a growing niche market
was established for consumers with a "renewed interest in the biological fitness, survivability, and superior flavor" of the Narragansett.
variety known as the Silver Narragansett was developed with white plumage replacing the tan and gray. Never accepted by the American Poultry Association and very rare, Silver Narragansett sports
still occasionally appear in flocks of more typically colored birds.
Breed
A breed is a group of domestic animals or plants with a homogeneous appearance, behavior, and other characteristics that distinguish it from other animals or plants of the same species. Despite the centrality of the idea of "breeds" to animal husbandry, there is no scientifically accepted...
of Meleagris gallopavo which descends from a cross between the Eastern Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) and the domestic turkey brought to Colonial America
Colonial America
The colonial history of the United States covers the history from the start of European settlement and especially the history of the thirteen colonies of Britain until they declared independence in 1776. In the late 16th century, England, France, Spain and the Netherlands launched major...
by English
British colonization of the Americas
British colonization of the Americas began in 1607 in Jamestown, Virginia and reached its peak when colonies had been established throughout the Americas...
and other European colonists
European colonization of the Americas
The start of the European colonization of the Americas is typically dated to 1492. The first Europeans to reach the Americas were the Vikings during the 11th century, who established several colonies in Greenland and one short-lived settlement in present day Newfoundland...
beginning in the 17th century. According to the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy
American Livestock Breeds Conservancy
The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy is a nonprofit organization focused on preserving and promoting genetic diversity among rare breeds of livestock...
, the Narragansett Turkey is a "historic variety, unique to North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
" and is named for Narragansett Bay
Narragansett Bay
Narragansett Bay is a bay and estuary on the north side of Rhode Island Sound. Covering 147 mi2 , the Bay forms New England's largest estuary, which functions as an expansive natural harbor, and includes a small archipelago...
.
Characteristics
The Narragansett has plumagePlumage
Plumage refers both to the layer of feathers that cover a bird and the pattern, colour, and arrangement of those feathers. The pattern and colours of plumage vary between species and subspecies and can also vary between different age classes, sexes, and season. Within species there can also be a...
with black, gray, tan, and white feather
Feather
Feathers are one of the epidermal growths that form the distinctive outer covering, or plumage, on birds and some non-avian theropod dinosaurs. They are considered the most complex integumentary structures found in vertebrates, and indeed a premier example of a complex evolutionary novelty. They...
s. It resembles the Bronze Turkey but has feathers of gray or dull black replacing the Bronze Turkey's distinctive coppery coloring. The Narragansett sometimes has bars of white feathers on its wings due to a genetic mutation not found outside the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It has a black beard
Wattle (anatomy)
A wattle is a fleshy dewlap or caruncle hanging from various parts of the head or neck in several groups of birds, goats and other animals. In some birds the caruncle is erectile tissue.The wattle is frequently an organ of sexual dimorphism...
, a horn-colored beak
Beak
The beak, bill or rostrum is an external anatomical structure of birds which is used for eating and for grooming, manipulating objects, killing prey, fighting, probing for food, courtship and feeding young...
, and a mostly featherless head and neck which range in color from red to blueish white.
The breed is prized for its excellent temperament combining a calm disposition with good maternal abilities. They mature early, are good egg
Egg (biology)
An egg is an organic vessel in which an embryo first begins to develop. In most birds, reptiles, insects, molluscs, fish, and monotremes, an egg is the zygote, resulting from fertilization of the ovum, which is expelled from the body and permitted to develop outside the body until the developing...
producers, have excellent quality meat
Poultry
Poultry are domesticated birds kept by humans for the purpose of producing eggs, meat, and/or feathers. These most typically are members of the superorder Galloanserae , especially the order Galliformes and the family Anatidae , commonly known as "waterfowl"...
, and "when kept at liberty, (it) doesn't wander too far from home". Improved over generations through selective breeding
Selective breeding
Selective breeding is the process of breeding plants and animals for particular genetic traits. Typically, strains that are selectively bred are domesticated, and the breeding is sometimes done by a professional breeder. Bred animals are known as breeds, while bred plants are known as varieties,...
, young Narragansett Turkey toms weigh 22-28 pounds and hens weigh 12-16 pounds. They can run quickly, fly well, and prefer to spend their nights roosting in trees.
History
While never as popular as the Bronze Turkey, this breed was still valued for commercial agricultureCommercial agriculture
Commercial Agriculture refers to a process of large-scale production of crops for sale, intended for widespread distribution to wholesalers or retail outlets. In commercial farming crops such as wheat, maize, tea, coffee, sugarcane, cashew, rubber, banana, cotton are harvested and sold into world...
across the United States. According to an account from the early 1870s, flocks of up to two hundred birds were common. Narragansett Turkeys were successful at foraging
Foraging
- Definitions and significance of foraging behavior :Foraging is the act of searching for and exploiting food resources. It affects an animal's fitness because it plays an important role in an animal's ability to survive and reproduce...
for cricket
Cricket (insect)
Crickets, family Gryllidae , are insects somewhat related to grasshoppers, and more closely related to katydids or bush crickets . They have somewhat flattened bodies and long antennae. There are about 900 species of crickets...
s, grasshopper
Grasshopper
The grasshopper is an insect of the suborder Caelifera in the order Orthoptera. To distinguish it from bush crickets or katydids, it is sometimes referred to as the short-horned grasshopper...
s and other insect
Insect
Insects are a class of living creatures within the arthropods that have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body , three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes, and two antennae...
s, and could be maintained with little supplemental feed
Compound feed
Compound feeds are feedstuffs that are blended from various raw materials and additives. These blends are formulated according to the specific requirements of the target animal...
.
Narragansett Turkey became the foundation of the turkey industry in New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
and was especially important in Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
and Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
. It was also popular in the Mid-Atlantic States
Mid-Atlantic States
The Mid-Atlantic states, also called middle Atlantic states or simply the mid Atlantic, form a region of the United States generally located between New England and the South...
and the Midwest
Midwestern United States
The Midwestern United States is one of the four U.S. geographic regions defined by the United States Census Bureau, providing an official definition of the American Midwest....
. This breed was recognized by the American Poultry Association
American Poultry Association
The American Poultry Association is the oldest poultry organization in the North America. Founded in 1873, and incorporated in Indiana in 1932 The first American poultry show was held in 1849, and the APA was later formed in response to the burgeoning need for an overseeing body to set standards...
in 1874.
In the early 20th century, the popularity of the Bronze Turkey grew even more and the Narragansett Turkey soon became a rarity. It was not commercially cultivated
Breeding
Breeding is the reproduction, that is, producing of offspring, usually animals or plants:* Breeding in the wild, the natural process of reproduction in the animal kingdom* Animal husbandry, through selected specimens such as dogs, horses, and rabbits...
for many decades until the early 21st century when a growing niche market
Niche market
A niche market is the subset of the market on which a specific product is focusing; therefore the market niche defines the specific product features aimed at satisfying specific market needs, as well as the price range, production quality and the demographics that is intended to impact...
was established for consumers with a "renewed interest in the biological fitness, survivability, and superior flavor" of the Narragansett.
Varieties
A fancyAnimal fancy
Animal fancy is a hobby involving the appreciation, promotion, or breeding of pet or domestic animals.Fancy may include ownership, showing, trialling and other competitions, breeding and judging. Hobbyists may simply collect specimens of the animal in appropriate enclosures, such as aquaria and...
variety known as the Silver Narragansett was developed with white plumage replacing the tan and gray. Never accepted by the American Poultry Association and very rare, Silver Narragansett sports
Mutant
In biology and especially genetics, a mutant is an individual, organism, or new genetic character, arising or resulting from an instance of mutation, which is a base-pair sequence change within the DNA of a gene or chromosome of an organism resulting in the creation of a new character or trait not...
still occasionally appear in flocks of more typically colored birds.