The Standard Bronze was America's turkey for most of its history: colonists crossed European domestic turkeys with Eastern wild birds, the name was in use by the 1830s for the Point Judith (Rhode Island) Bronze, and the APA recognised it in 1874. It is the largest heritage variety, and the plumage is the classic Thanksgiving look — dark brown feathers with a black band and a metallic copper-bronze sheen. It mates naturally, unlike the Broad Breasted Bronze bred from it. Bronzes are active foragers that want room; well-socialised birds follow their keepers about, though some lines are selected for aggression.
Beginner friendly
Good with kids
Cold hardy
Heat tolerant
Broody
Egg colorCream Spotted
Egg production40–60 / year
TemperamentDocile
BroodinessOccasional
ClimateCold hardy, Heat tolerant
PurposeMeat
Weight
Hen20 lb
Tom36 lb
How to spot it
Plumage
Dark brown with a metallic bronze sheen; tail barred black and brown with a wide bronze band and white tip
Legs & feet
Pink in adults; very dark in young birds
Look for
A wild-turkey pattern on a bird that can still fly and mate — narrower-breasted than the Broad Breasted Bronze
