Hatching Chickens Since 1936

Cackle Hatchery Blog

Nine decades of hard-won flock knowledge including care guides, breed profiles, and stories from the hatchery floor.

Turkeys

Differences Between Heritage Turkeys and Broad Breasted Turkeys
Turkeys

Differences Between Heritage Turkeys and Broad Breasted Turkeys

Gail Damerow2 min read

In comparison to other poultry species, little is known about how turkeys were originally domesticated. What is known is that wild turkeys are indigenous to the Americas and were kept by Native Americans centuries before the arrival of Europeans. Various tribes ate turkey eggs, as well as enjoying turkey meat, both cooked fresh and dried […]

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Heritage Breed: The Narragansett Turkey
Turkeys

Heritage Breed: The Narragansett Turkey

Gail Damerow2 min read

A picture-perfect Pilgrim-era turkey, the Narragansett was developed by early settlers as a cross between Norfolk Black turkeys brought from Europe and local wild turkeys. Having its origins in Rhode Island, the turkey was named after the state’s Narragansett Bay. It was once a common feature in farmyards, but eventually lost favor to more cost-effective […]

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The Best Mating Ratios for Poultry: How Many Hens per Rooster?
Chicken Care

The Best Mating Ratios for Poultry: How Many Hens per Rooster?

Gail Damerow4 min read

The optimal mating ratio for chickens, turkeys, and other poultry is not the same ratio in which they typically hatch. Most poultry naturally hatch approximately 50 percent females and 50 percent males. If your goal is to obtain fertile eggs for hatching, that ratio will result in males fighting excessively with each other, and when […]

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Tips for Choosing a Thanksgiving Turkey
Turkeys

Tips for Choosing a Thanksgiving Turkey

Cackle Hatchery3 min read

You read that right, folks: Thanksgiving is nearly upon us, only a few short weeks away. And so begins the preparation for the best meal of the year. If you haven’t hosted Thanksgiving dinner before, you might be wondering how to choose the right turkey for you and your family. Here are some tips to […]

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Where are all the Turkey Eggs?
Turkeys

Where Are All the Turkey Eggs?

Cackle Hatchery2 min read

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, Americans all across the country are gearing up for the biggest, most beloved feast of the year. For many of these folks, Thanksgiving dinner just wouldn’t be the same without a big, juicy turkey planted firmly at the center of the dinner table. Thanksgiving turkey recipes are often closely-guarded […]

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